Preserving our family memories

I spend almost every Wednesday night scrapbooking at Doodles with my mom and a great group of 'scrap sisters'. Occasionally I also spend a day (like today!) or as a special treat, a whole weekend preserving the memories our family makes on pages for our albums.

The albums vary - Barry has his career albums grouped by posting; there is a set of albums filled with memories of the girl"s time with the band; there are albums about our trip to Cuba, Stanley the Bear, Barry's adventures with Jasper towing and our Christmas albums.

But I think the albums the family most often checks to see if there are new pages are the one just about us - what we do throughout the year, where we live, people we love, friends, birthdays and traditions.

I love to scrapbook - and since I stopped scrapping chronologically and started scrapping as a picture brought back memories or a creative idea hit, I have enjoyed it a lot more.

So here's to 2012 - and a year filled with preserving more memories - at my own rate and without any pressure to be creative. After all, in 60 years, I don't think my great-grandchildren are going to marvel at my creativity - they will just be thankful I took the time to document our family so they can have a glimpse into our lives.

Sometimes you have to forget about the to-do-list

Today was one of the those days. I had great intentions of using the weekend to finish putting away all the Christmas stuff and get the house back to normal -  do the laundry, change the bed - the never-ending chores that make it nice to be at home:)

And while I did manage to make a dent in the list - a fortunate thing happened. I decided to start reading one of the books I was lucky enough to get for Christmas. Not fortunate for the to-do-list (I have always chose reading over chores since I was 9 0r 10 reading Nancy Drew) but fortunate for me.

The book I picked up was Garth Stein's 'The Art of Racing in the Rain'. Now having an ageing dog - this might not have been a good choice - just like choosing to watch 'Marley and Me' a few weeks ago - but this book made me laugh out loud - even read a few paragraphs to Barry - and it made me smile - and yes, I even had to get some kleenex out towards the end.

If you haven't read this book yet - you can borrow my copy - it is a must read for anyone who believes dogs can actually communicate and that they have an important part in a family. I am quite certain even Mikey has thoughts like Enzo!

Warning - if you have unfinished chores - you might want to finish them before you start reading! And thanks Mom and Dad for the book - I can blame the unfinished to-do-list on you:)

Gingerbread 101

In 2010, my brother Ken and his family and Barry's mom Bernie came out to spend Christmas with the family. I tried to think of something new and creative for us to all do - that didn't require any athletic ability or special equipment. Walking through the stores - it hit me! We should do a team gingerbread house challenge! We did - it was lots of fun. Jackie and Jess won the 1st Gingerbread House challenge - and so began a new tradition.



Barry and I with our 2011 Gingerbread House

 In 2011, we didn't have out-of-town family visit so we had fewer 'entries' but all were very creative and original. Megan and Will did a gingerbread 'barn' complete with a silo, farm animals and strawberry patch.

Megan and Will with 'the farm'!

Mom and Dad did a more traditional house, complete with a 'teddy bear lane' made with Dad's cinnamon gummy bears from Sweet's in Salt Lake. They also used up all of the original kit ingredients.



Dad and Mom with 'teddy bear lane'



After the work was done, our top secret judges carefully evaluated the entries and declared that there were two winners in the 2011 Gingerbread House Challenge. Most Original Gingerbread House went to Megan and Will,

while Katie and Clint won Most Creative Gingerbread House (the rice krispie trees put it over the top.

Katie and Clint with their 'Winter Cabin'

 Barry was a little disappointed that his 'triage teepee' complete with gummy infantry men didn't win. Oh well, there is always next year! I guess we all better start getting some new ideas - top secret of course. Don't want to give away our plans to our competitors!

Reflection

 A few days before Christmas, something happened that made me spend some time over the holidays really looking at my life. What really matters to me. Have I grown as a person? Do I work hard on sustaining my relationships with family and friends? Do I work hard to make a positive difference in our community? Do I have integrity and a good work ethic? Do I place as much importance on those who love me and who I love as I do to total strangers or false friends? Am I doing what I need to continue to grow and learn?

As I thought about it, I realized that I have been so busy trying to make up for the past, that I haven't taken time to see that I am not the same person I was 15 years ago and that perhaps, it is time for me to see me as my family and true friends do - doing my best everyday while valuing my family and friends and doing what I can to make a positive contribution to the community I live in. Time to be as kind to myself as I am to others. Time to forgive myself.

While I have grown and learned from the past, it is time to let it go and move on. Continue to support my family and community; work on the relationships I value; take the opportunities that present themselves to continue to learn and grow; most of all, never take my family and true friends for granted.

So 2012 will be a year of change for me - no resolutions - rather a committment to continue to blog the things that matter - family, friends, home - and now, gratitude.

I learned those few days before Christmas that I should be grateful for the lessons learned and the love that surrounds and supports me. I am blessed.

Candy Cane Cookies

It is a very blustery day here and I also saw a reminder that Christmas is 43 days away - the two got me thinking that I should start getting a list together of what I would like to bake this Christnas.

When I was 12 or so, I got the Betty Crocker Cookie Book from my mom and dad for my birthday. It was the start of my cookie baking, and I still have the book - although it is missing a few pages and the back cover - and in it is one of my favorite Christmas cookie recipes.

I made these a few times while growing up, and then when Megan and Katie were little, we made them as well. When they moved out, I had stopped making them - it isn't the same making them by yourself!

Then last year - Mom, Megan, Katie and I - had our first 'Baking Day' - we all got together early at our house and spent about  8 hours baking all sorts of delicious cookies - and of course, made the Candy Cane Cookies!

Hope you enjoy this - and have fun making it with your family or foodie friends!

Megan forming candy cane cookies

Candy Cane Cookies
(original recipe from Betty Crocker Cookie Cookbook)

1 cup sifted icing sugar

1 cup butter or margarine, softened

1 tsp. almond extract

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 egg

2 1/2 c. all purpose flour

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. red food coloring

1/2 c. crushed candy canes

1/2 c. granulated sugar

Heat oven to 375'. Stir together icing sugar, butter, milk, vanilla, extract and egg in large bowl. Stir in flour and salt. Divide dough in half. Stir food coloring into 1 half. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours.

Stir together crushed candy canes and sugar.

For each candy cane, shape 1 rounded teaspoon dough from each half into 4-inch rope by rolling back and forth on floured surface. Place 1 red and white rope side by side; press together lightly and twist. Place on ungreased cookie sheet; curve top of cookie down to form handle of cane.

Bake about 9 minutes until lightly browned. While still warm, roll gently in candy cane/sugar mixture.

Makes about 4 dozen cookies.

Can't believe is it November already...

October flew by so quickly - and we were pretty busy putting everything away outside and enjoying the fall activities in our community.

The big day for Harvest Pumpkin Festival is the last Saturday of October. Flying pumpkins, lawn tractor racing, pumpkin carving and a 'somethin' pumpkin' cooking contest. This year we also had a 'Some like it Hot' chili cookoff, and I was happy to take 2nd place in the amateur competition with my Vegie Chili.

It has evolved over the years, and everytime I make it - it is slightly different - but here is the basic recipe - feel free to make any changes you might like.

Vegie Chili

1 large onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped (use 4 or 5 if they are small)
1 large red pepper, seeded and chopped
3 large carrots,peel and diced
2 parsnips, peeled and diced
2 sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
1 cup pumpkin, peeled and diced
1 can (28 oz/796 mL) diced tomatoes
1 can (28 oz/796ml) pureed tomatoes
1 small can chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, diced
1 small can green chilies, diced
2 cups dried mexican campo beans (if you can't find these - they are from Wolfgang Flour and grown in Kamloops - use 2 cups dried mixed beans)
1 large can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
2 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp smoked paprika (more to taste if you wish)
1/2 tsp ground red pepper
Salt and freshly ground pepper (I used my spiced salt from Grenada in my prize winning batch - so good!)

Mix everything together in a large crockpot and cook on low for 6 - 8 hours. Serve with sour cream and chopped cilantro if you wish.

Makes a large batch - serves a crowd or is great reheated later in the week!



Stanley with my prize winning chili!

 One of the entries in the 'Somethin' Pumpkin' cooking contest was a Spicy Pumpkin Dip, that was similar to the usual Taco Dip you see at parties, but this was very tasty - and is hard to stop eating!

Spicy Pumpkin Taco Dip

12 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 cup cooked or canned pumpkin
3 1/2 tablespoons taco seasoning
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 lb. lean ground beef, fried and well drained
1/2 cup yellow bell pepper, diced
1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced
1 can (6 ounces) olives, sliced
1 round loaf Italian or whole wheat bread or a small pumpkin

In a medium mixing bowl, beat together the cream cheese, pumpkin, taco seasoning, garlic powder, and crushed red pepper flakes until smooth. Stir in the beef, peppers, and olives. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

To serve, hollow out round loaf of bread (bread can be used for bread crumbs or another use) or small pumpkin. Fill shell with dip. Serve with vegetables, chips, or crackers.

Enjoy!

...and more clippings!

Still sorting through newspaper clippings and recipes written on scraps of paper - and came across a couple of favorites.

The first is a recipe from my friend Rea. Rea has baked for the annual Community Christmas Dinner since it started - I think about 7 years now - and I help out a bit. Everything is great - but I have to say, Rea's Rum Balls are my favorite!

Rea's Rum Balls

3/4 c. whipping cream          2 c. chocolate chips
1/4 c. butter                        3 tbsp. rum
3 tbsp. sugar                       4 c graham wafer crumbs

Melt whipping cream, butter and sugar - bring to a boil. Remove from heat and add the chocolate chips and rum. Stir until chocolate chips melt. Add the graham cracker crumbs and still well. Cool 3 hours or overnight. Form into balls. Roll in chocolate sprinkles.

When we lived in Terrace, I was lucky enough to make friends with Rhonda R. Rhonda was a great cook, seamstress and friend - and she shared the following recipe with me. My family loved these - and now I found the recipe, I can make them again!

Chocolate Billionaires

1 pkg. (14 oz) caramels                    1 c. crushed rice krispies
3 tbsp. water                                   2 c. chocolate chips
1 1/2 c. coarsely chopped pecans   

In double boiler, melt caramels and water. Remove from heat; stir in pecans and rice krispies. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto wax paper. Chill until firm,

Melt chocolate chips over low heat. Dip balls in melted chocolate. Place on wax paper and chill until set. Store in airtight container. Makes about 4 dozen.

About 3 years ago, I clipped the recipe below out of a Woman's Day magazine. It is quick to make and tastes great - and I have made it every year since I found the recipe!

Candy and Cookie Bark

4 bars (3 oz. each) mint chocolate, broken into pieces
3 packs (from a box of 6) 100 Calorie Oreo Thin Crisps, coarsely crumbles
3 medium peppermint candy canes, coarsely chopped

Line a baking sheet with foil. Melt chocolate, stirring often until melted.  Stir in 1 cup crumbled cookies; scrape mixture onto lined pan. Spread about 1/4 inch thick. Immediately sprinkle with crushed candy canes and remaining crumbled cookies. Pat down slightly.

Refrigerate until firm. Break into uneven pieces. Refrigerate in an airtight container with wax paper between the layers. Makes about 24 pieces.