Week #50 Family At Christmas

"All I Want For Christmas Is ___ ____ ___"

Don't those look like some happy faces, the holiday cheer is practically beaming out of that picture! 

As our family enters this holiday season we have been discussing what we want most to focus on this year. The unanimous vote (with extra enthusiasm from my DH), was just more time together as a family.  Isn't that what most of us want deep down, minus the dysfunction and anxiety of course. I can't imagine in the 1950's there were annny dysfunctional family gatherings.

Nope, Not In The 80's/90's Either

If I remember correctly this was the year Aunt Rebecca hosted a Christmas dinner. She had made an exquisite lobster bisque. Now Nana is allergic to lobster but she wouldn't let that stop her, no sir. She enjoyed every bite of that soup as her face began to swell and her throat tickled. She even managed to smile in this picture, it's likely her brain was swelling by this point as well but you can't tell under all that AquaNet.

Carry On, Carry On

I think as you grow older your Christmas list grows smaller and the things you really want for the holidays can't be bought.  Like awkward family photos and stories that you'll never live down. Like quarks that drive the In-Laws crazy but is normal to everyone else in the room. Like knowing your with your family and someone is willing to drive to the QT for toilet paper and Marlboro Lights.

Not My 1st Pick, But We Are Trying New Things Here

This Week We Purchased The Following: 

This was a restocking week, laundry detergent, 
personal care items, baking goods, Meat,
veggies, fruit, and dairy.

 The total spent was $89.73

Our allotted budget is $130 but the goal is to stay under $100

Anything not spent gets rolled into the pot for restocking

or end of the year reallocation, like Christmas shopping

Breakfast Options For The Week

• Oatmeal
• Maple Almond Scone Bites with Vanilla Glaze
• Carrot Cake Donuts (leftover)
• Sugared Chocolate Donuts (leftover)
• Eggs & Toast
• Mock Jimmy Dean Breakfast Bowl

Minimal breakfast prep  means more time
for making cookies!

Monday:

Lunch - PB & J

Dinner - 7th Heaven Chicken, Side Salad, Jasmine Rice

Tuesday:

Lunch - Left Over 7th Heaven Chicken

Dinner - Grilled Steak, Grilled Onions, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Steamed Green Beans

Wednesday:

Lunch - Steak Salad or Tomato Sandwiches

Dinner - Spinach Stuffed Shells, Garlic Bread

Thursday:

Lunch - Left Over Stuffed Shells

Dinner - Lemon Pepper Pork Chops, Au Gratin Taters

Friday:

Lunch - Thai Veggie Ramen Stir-Fry

Dinner - Chili Mac, Side Salad

Saturday:

Lunch - Christmas Shopping - we'll eat out for a change

Dinner - Crab Newburg Over Old Bay Pasta, Garlic Steamed Asparagus

Sunday:

Lunch: Homemade Chicken Pot Pie, Cranberry Sauce

Dinner: Dinner At Friends House

Snacks:

• Oranges, Bananas, Apples, Pears, Grapes
• Christmas Cookies
• Granola Bars
• Peppermint Popcorn

Drinks:

• Coffee and Hot Tea
• Water - that's a biggie here
• MYO Arizona Green Tea
• MYO Lemonade Concentrate

I Don't Leave Home Without It

I generally plan on Wed when I have 30 minutes  before mass chos begins.

I shop on Fri so our family menus (posted on the fridge) run from Fri to Thur.

How do I keep it all straight without pulling my hair out? I use Pepperplate.   

This site/App keeps all my recipes, super easy to upload from other sites, 

my shopping list which automatically uploads, my weekly/monthly planner, 

AAAND  (with best infomercial voice I can muster)   So Much More! (Nope I 

didn't get paid to say that either.)

Proverbs 31:15

She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plan the day's work for her servant girls.

Tis The Season

Christmas was always a big deal at Nana's  house. The tree would go up the day after thanksgiving and about 10 moving boxes worth of ornaments would be hauled down from the attic. Mind you she has a collection that would rival the North Pole but 10 was about as many as the poor tree could hold. 

Folks I Know This Kid, She Never Learned How That Thing Worked

Not long after the floor would be littered with packages and anticipation would prevent even the most patient person from sneaking  a shake or two of the packages. Mailing out Christmas cards was a project that I'm certain would make Santa's elves cringe but somehow each hand written card would make it to the recipient before the big day. 

"Hurry And Take The Picture, SANTA'S COMING"

Somehow in all the bustle the focus on Christ was slightly amiss. There was the annual midnight mass, cranky children dressed in their finest, focus on whether Santa would miss them because they weren't home sleeping and dozing in the pews. Mind you, there was always a special naivety seen specially placed as a reminder.

 Papa would spend hours longing the driveway with candle light milk jugs, besides it being a beautiful tradition  I never knew the reason why. 

"That's All, Where's The Rest of The Gifts"

As an adult I thought for many years my families traditions needed to be the same. As I've grown I have yearned to change the focus from the chaotic focus of materialism to a more faith focused and simplified celebration. This year I took a general consensus of our family. Most everyone wanted the same thing, time together as a family. 

Coooookies!

My son, who is prime for all things Santa and Christmas fun, requested Christmas cookies. There was something I never really did during the holidays. Baking wasn't big in my family so I never gave it much thought. 

A Little Bit Of Butter Makes A Bitter Batter Better 

In honor of my little mans request, here is a wonderful multi- purpose cookie base recipes. Make a bulk supply, store it in a tub, and when needed scoop out an ample portion, add your chocolate chips or oatmeal & raisins or what ever you like. 

1 c. butter
1 c. brown sugar
1 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
3 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt

• Cream butter, add sugars and mix well. Add eggs and vanilla. Add flour, sifted with salt and baking soda, a little at a time. 
• Bake at 350 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes.

Chocolate Chips: add 1 package chips and 1 cup nuts. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheet.

Oatmeal: Add 1/2 tsp. cinnamon and 1/4 tsp. nutmeg to dough and mix well. Blend in 1 to 1 1/2 cups oatmeal and 1 cup raisins, if desired. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheet.

Decorated: Press teaspoonful of dough with glass covered with damp cloth, and sprinkle with any candy decorations and bake. Icing may be spread on plain cookie after cooling.

Peanut Butter: Add 1 cup crunchy peanut butter to dough and blend well. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheet, press with bottom of glass covered with a damp cloth. Mark flattened cookie with tines of fork and bake.

Pecan: Add 1 cup broken nuts to dough.

Genesis 18:6

So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah, and said, "Quickly, prepare three measures of fine flour, knead it and make bread cakes."