Holiday Fun

We tried something different for Christmas Eve this year--a "shepherd's dinner." Here's the spread of food--pita bread, meatballs, cheeses, tomatoes and cucumbers, hard boiled eggs, fruit, dates and almonds. (The olives, which would have been the most symbolic food on the table, were forgotten in the cupboard.)
We dressed up like shepherds and ate on blankets on the floor.

We even had a fake fire and a bleeting-sheep sound track in the background. Below, Megyn warms her hands over the christmas-light-and-tinsel embers.

After eating, we had a program of music and the reading of the Christmas story. It was fun, and just might be the start of a new tradition.

These next two pictures show what we've been doing since Christmas--puzzles and games. We've also been movie watching and eating too much.

Jeff tries to figure out a new board game we got called Power Grid. Looks complicated, doesn't it?

Candy House 2010

We created a candy house this year. We decided to make a ski lodge this year. I found a picture on the internet I liked and created a pattern based on the picture. Our helpers this year were the Sister Missionaries on Thanksgiving and on a later date, Roshelle and Miriam. Roshelle is related to the Murdoch's in Beaver. Miriam just turned 8.

Our other "helper" was Jake. On three separate occasions, he jumped on the table and ate a tree, three windows, a wreath and several stepping stones in the back (peanut brittle).

Needless to say, our preventive measures didn't work.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE!!!!!

Breakfast Enchiladas

Here's what we are having for Christmas brunch (and it's so yummy!):

Ingredients
1 (1-pound) package hot ground pork sausage
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
4 green onions, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
14 large eggs, beaten
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
Cheese Sauce*
8 (8-inch) flour tortillas
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Monterey Jack cheese with jalapeños
Toppings: halved grape tomatoes, sliced green onions, chopped fresh cilantro
Preparation
Cook sausage in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, stirring until sausage crumbles and is no longer pink. Remove from pan; drain well, pressing between paper towels.

Melt butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add green onions and cilantro, and sauté 1 minute. Add eggs, salt, and pepper, and cook, without stirring, until eggs begin to set on bottom. Draw a spatula across bottom of pan to form large curds. Continue to cook until eggs are thickened but still moist; do not stir constantly. Remove from heat, and gently fold in 1 1/2 cups Cheese Sauce and sausage.

Spoon about 1/3 cup egg mixture down the center of each flour tortilla; roll up. Place, seam side down, in a lightly greased 13- x- 9-inch baking dish. Pour remaining Cheese Sauce evenly over tortillas; sprinkle evenly with Monterey Jack cheese.

Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until sauce is bubbly. Serve with desired toppings.

*Cheese Sauce:

Ingredients
1/3 cup butter
1/3 cup flour
3 cups milk
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded Cheddar cheese
1 (4.5-ounce) can chopped green chiles, undrained
3/4 teaspoon salt
Preparation
Melt butter in a heavy saucepan over medium-low heat; whisk in flour until smooth. Cook, whisking constantly, 1 minute. Gradually whisk in milk; cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, 5 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat, and whisk in remaining ingredients.

Pumpkin Crumb Coffee Cake

In case you are looking for some new brunch recipes here are my two latest favorites.

Topping:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
Pinch of salt
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold, cut into pieces
Cake:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon cinnamon
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/3 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 15-oz. can pumpkin
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature, lightly beaten
Preparation
1. Make topping: In a bowl, stir together flour, brown sugar, salt and cinnamon. Add butter and combine with fingertips until mixture is crumbly. Refrigerate while making batter.

2. Make cake: Preheat oven to 350ºF. Butter and flour a 9-by-13-inch cake pan. In a small bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and spices. In a large bowl, whisk together oil, applesauce, pumpkin, vanilla and both sugars until well mixed. Whisk in eggs. Add flour mixture to pumpkin mixture and stir until just combined; do not overmix. Pour batter into cake pan and spread evenly. Sprinkle with reserved topping.

3. Bake cake until a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. Allow to cool in pan on a wire rack at least 20 minutes.

Baked Mexican Quiche

1 lb. breakfast sausage, browned
1/2 cup melted butter (use a little to butter the dish)
1/2 cup flour
dash salt
2 cups cottage cheese
12 eggs
1 tsp. baking powder
8 ounces chopped mild green chiles
4 cups grated Monterey Jack cheese

**Butter a 9 x 13 baking pan. Set aside. In a large mixing bowl, beat eggs and add flour, baking powder, and salt, and mix well. Add melted butter, leaving the pan buttered. Add chiles, sausage, and cheeses. Mix together and pour into baking pan. Back uncovered at 350 for 45-60 minutes. Test for doneness with a knife.

Picture

Check out this picture found in the aftermath of the Provo Tabernacle fire.

Rock Salad

I made this salad for Sunday dinner & invited Joyce and Alan to come. Alan kept asking for "more of that salad with the rocks in it". It has therefore become known as "Rock Salad" It's pretty good.

ROCK SALAD

8 oz. Cream Cheese
12 oz. Cool Whip
1/2 cup sugar
Add:
1 small can crushed pineapple (drain)
1 pkg. frozen raspberries or strawberries (drain)

1 cup broken Pretzels
1/2 cup butter (melted)
1/2 cup sugar
Mix and press in pan and bake at 350 degrees for 7 minutes. When cool break into little pieces. Add to Cool Whip mixture just before serving.

My latest story

In case you're interested, here's my latest story published in an "e-zine." http://www.eastoftheweb.com/short-stories/UBooks/EndLine871.shtml

Finished Product

Here is the scrapbook I made for grandma's birthday. Thank you all so much for your contributions! I had a lot of fun putting it all together.

Scout's Honor

The local paper ran an article about Jared. Read it at:

http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/12/07/2686576/scouts-honor-mustangs-pair-works.html

December sunset

Another picture perfect

One more

Siennah

Okay, this is the last one

I'm Done

I just couldn't resist. I had to post this picture because it tells a story. She had just about had her fill of Grandma Mary and her camera. This one is for posterity.

Tree Hunting

How was Thanksgiving for all of you? We had a nice dinner here with some other families in the ward. I, of course, forgot to take any pictures. It was a delicious meal and a nice day.
Friday I got up at 3:45 and headed to Target to start my "Black Friday" shopping. Great deals!
Saturday we continued our holiday tradition of tree hunting. This is my favorite Kelsey tradition. A few years ago we found this cute little tree farm out in the country. Each year they make improvements and we always promise to go back.
Before we even picked out a tree we had a lot of fun watching the kids play in the bounce house and on the play set. We took some pictures and went for a hayride around the farm. It was a nice, crisp morning which made the hot cocoa and donuts taste even better.
I love this time of year!

Siennah

Siennah

I played around with this one in photoshop. It's amazing what you can do

Michael

Helping Grandma Mary with the rolls on Thanksgiving day. Does this look like Brendon, or what?