STRESS-FREE HOLIDAY PARTY MAKEOVER (or: The Party With a Purpose)

We try our best not to overindulge our children, yet despite our best intentions they still have toys coming out their ears! Come Christmas and birthdays it seems like our tiny house is going to burst with all the plastic pieces, excessive packaging, and generously gifted glut!

So, this past September when my daughter turned 8, we came up with a new concept ~ The Party With a Purpose. First, we chose a cause near and dear to HER heart: Animals. We arranged with our local humane society (SPCA) to have a party on their premises. Guests were asked to bring a gift of blankets, towels, toys or treats for the animals, instead of a gift for my daughter. The generosity was overwhelming. The SPCA gave a wonderful presentation and slide-show and then took everyone on a tour of their facilities. After we had a brownie sundae bar (served in doggy dishes of course) on a sunny deck outside the education center, overlooking the barn where two baby goats had been born earlier in the week. It didn't seem to bother my daughter one iota that the mountain of presents weren't for her. She beamed with pride and pure joy when Dawn, our SPCA guide thanked her for hosting a "Party With a Purpose" at the SPCA.

When Jodie Kocur of "CARDS FOR KIDS" contacted me to let me know that they were doing a card drive for the holidays, it made me think immediately of what a wonderful opportunity this presented for a "Party With a Purpose". If you're not familiar with CARDS FOR KIDS, it's an open group, organized by Jodie, an assistant professor of psychology at Cal Lutheran University, that collects cards and treats for distribution to children in shelters and hospitals at holiday time. My children and their friends had a great time making cards for the CARDS FOR KIDS drive before Halloween (read more about it HERE).

Have you been mulling over the idea of hosting a holiday party or open house? Not much time? Not a lot of money? Want to do something different? Unique?

How about a

CARD MAKING OPEN HOUSE?

Step 1: Set a date

Step 2: Call, email, or evite some friends to stop by your house and make a card or two to donate to "CARDS FOR KIDS". Invite a friend or two or the whole crew!

Step 3: Set a simple table with cardstock, blank cards, stickers, scrapbook paper, glitter, glue sticks, doo-dads, etc. Get creative! For some great ideas on creative cards you can make with things from around your house visit HERE!

Step 4: Have a pot of warm cider (recipe HERE) and a plate of cookies available throughout the day.

Step 5: Mail cards, before 12/14 to:

Jodie Kocur, Assistant Professor

Psychology Department\

California Lutheran University

60 W Olsen Road

Thousand Oaks, CA 91360

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POM's HOT APPLE PIE CIDER ~ a WONDERFUL new twist on the traditional holiday cup of cheer

A few weeks ago I was approached by the folks at POM Wonderful ~ the makers of that delicious (and antioxidant rich) 100% pomegranate juice ~ and was asked if I would like try to create some culinary magic using a complimentary case of their product.  I jumped at the opportunity to work with something new!  I've enjoyed POM Wonderful before ~ straight out of the bottle and mixed in cocktails ~ but being given creative license to create my own POM recipes sounded like the perfect holiday kitchen challenge! 

So, with holiday parties and open-houses in mind, I created a cozy cocktail to ward of the winter chill, and evoke the essence of what we cherish most about the holidays.  Here the gold of the apple cider and the crimson of the pomegranate juice mingle to create a jewel-toned toddy that nearly glows with holiday warmth and sentiment. 

It takes only minutes to prepare a large batch, perfect for parties and large gatherings.

Sandro Botticelli - Virgin of the Pomegranate

Why pomegranate in a holiday cocktail, you ask?  Well, did you know...

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  Pomegranates are one of mankind's earliest cultivated fruits?  Man first began planting pomegranate trees sometime between 4000 B.C. and 3000 B.C.
  
  
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  Many scholars now suggest that it was the pomegranate, not an apple, depicted in the biblical Garden of Eden.  Fancy that ~ a fruit with deep Biblical and historical roots!
  
  
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  Throughout history, the pomegranate has been revered as a symbol of health, fertility and rebirth.
  
  

POM's HOT APPLE PIE CIDER

1 64 oz. bottle Apple Cider
16 oz. POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice
2 3" Cinnamon Sticks
2 teaspoons Whole Allspice Berries
2 teaspoons Whole Cloves
2 teaspons Whole Star Anise
1 Clementine Orange, cut in thin slices

To garnish:
Tuaca (An Italian liqueur flavored with vanilla and citrus)
Whipped Cream
Grated Nutmeg
Cinnamon Sticks
Star Anise

Simply combine all ingredients in a large crock pot (or on the stove) and heat thouroughly.  Allow a minimum of one hour for ingredients to steep before serving.

To serve:  Fill a clear glass with 6 oz. of the POM cider.  Add one Tablespoon Tuaca Liquor (optional).  Top with a generous dollop of whipped cream (this is what makes it taste like hot apple pie) and  a dash of freshly grated nutmeg.  Insert one of the pointed tips of a star anise in the opening at the end of a cinnamon stick to created a "Cinnamon Wand" that makes a lovely a flavorful stir stick. 

WHY POM WONDERFUL?

• It's the only brand guaranteed to contain 100% authentic pomegranate juice:  All-natural and contains no added sugars, preservatives, colors or cheap fillers
• Tree to Bottle:  They grow their own fruit, pick it by hand, squeeze it with their own proprietary presses and even manufacture their own bottles!
• The Wonderful variety of pomegranate is known for its unique combination of superior antioxidants, delicious taste and deep crimson color.

DID YOU KNOW ABOUT THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF POMEGRANATE? 

Clinical studies have found positive health benefits from drinking pomegranate juice in the areas of Cariovascular Health, Prostate Health, and Erectile Function.  To learn more, click HERE.

For more incredible recipes that incororate the crown jewel of holiday fruit, visit the POM Wonderful website. Pin It Now!

YOU CAN ALWAYS MAKE SOMETHING OUT OF NOTHING

"When Joseph's favorite overcoat gets old and worn, he makes a jacket out of it. When the jacket is more patches than jacket, Joseph turns it into a vest. When the vest's number is up, Joseph makes a scarf. This thrifty industry continues until there's nothing left of the original garment. But clever Joseph manages to make something out of nothing! (And that's the foreshadowed moral of the story.)" ~ Amazon Book Review

JOSEPH HAD A LITTLE OVERCOAT is at once fanciful and wise, thought-provoking and engaging, and a most wonderful book to give a young person this holiday season.   It's at the top of my list of books that every child should have in their home library. 

Here's the background on what inspired this post and the recommendation:

I've been struck several times this week by an almost overwhelming THANKFULNESS, brought on by some simple acts that so many of us take for granted: shopping for groceries for the holiday, purchasing a few Christmas presents for the girls, ordering a pie from my girlfriend who makes the best darn sweet potato pie on the planet, dropping my spare change in a collection bucket...

A few years ago, my family went through an incredibly difficult period, where any of those things would have seemed like tremendous luxuries. During the holidays, I remember feeling like the girl in Rumplestiltskin sitting in the room full of straw, feeling the pressure to turn it in to gold. My creativity was indeed pushed to the limit, and as a result of having to make meaningful, quality gifts with only what I had on hand, and special and delicious meals with what was left in the pantry, I found that indeed I could spin straw in to gold ~ how empowering and life-changing!

(This illustration generously provided by Grandma's Graphics )

So, at thirty-five years of age, I confirmed what I had often suspected: You can always make something out of nothing. It's a motto that serves me well, and I hope to pass on to my children, along with the spirit of giving and sharing, everyday gratitude, and never taking anything for granted.

Also a firm believer in the "everything happens for a reason" theory, I happened to arrive early to pick up my daughter from preschool one day during our troubled times, and caught the end of a most amazing story: Joseph Had a Little Overcoat. I ended up borrowing the book that evening and reading it over and over again. It so perfectly conveyed the spirit and tone I was wanting to set for my daughters.

"In today's throwaway world, Joseph's old-fashioned frugality is a welcome change. Based on a Yiddish song from Simms Taback's youth (lyrics and music reproduced on the last page), the book is filled with rhythms and arresting colors that will delight every reader. As more and more holes appear in Joseph's coat, die-cut holes appear on the pages, hinting at each next manifestation. The illustrations are striking, created with gouache, watercolor, collage, pencil, and ink. Every inch of space is crammed with fanciful, funny details, such as the headline on a discarded newspaper: "Fiddler on Roof Falls off Roof."... (Ages 4 to 8)" Amazon Book Review, Emilie Coulter

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ENOUGH ABOUT ME ALREADY

(my maternal grandmother, Rose, is the baby pictured above)

I've never been particularly comfortable droning on and on about myself, but this week's posts seem to have been just that.  Thanks for bearing with me, for indulging me my follies, and for keeping my spirits high with your kind comments!

But enough about me already!  I want to hear about you...

With the Thanksgiving week nearly upon us, I'm thinking a lot about family.

So the question is:

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  Does your family (mom, dad, brothers, sisters, etc) read your blog?
  
  
  
  
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  If not, do you know why?  How do you feel about that?
  
  
  
  
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  If yes, how do they interact with your blog?  Do you write about them?  Ever write something you wish you hadn't?
  
  
  

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NOW I'M REALLY BLUSHING

It's been a week of bloggerly love and some darn good ego strokes.  The icing on the cake was today's news from Ms. Bibi at From Misery to Happiness in 365 Days that she's awarded me the "Gorgeous Blogger Award".  Not "Gorgeous Blog".  Gorgeous Blogger.  Me?  Me!  Yippee! 

By accepting this award I am supposed to tell you 6 things you might not know about me and then pass it on to another gorgeous blogger.

Six things.  Hmmm.... Let's see...

1)  People who know me would undoubtedly charactarize me as feminine ~ a girly girl ~ but I definitely harbor an inner tomboy; always have.  I was raised with three brothers, so hanging out with the guys just comes naturally.  I still ooh and ahh over Tonka trucks, fire engines, and dinosaurs.  My shoe of choice is the high heel, but if I truly had my druthers I'd go shoeless and splash in mud puddles.  I loathe chick flicks and love super heroes!  Also (just had to throw this out there), I think cephalopods are the coolest (TENTACLES!!!)

2)  I used to work for the Candid Camera Television Show (Smile!).  You may have seen me as the flight attendant in the flight over the Grand Canyon gag, or as the admin assistant in "Small Office" to name a few. 

3)  I {HEART} vintage.  Okay, maybe that was an obvious one.  My latest obsessions have been vintage patent leather purses and floral broaches.

4)  I treasure my collection of birds' nests and birds' eggs.  My favorite egg is from a chicken at my daughter's preschool (Bertha).  Bertha must have been pretty tense when she laid this little beauty because it's the same length as a regular brown egg, but is 1/4 the girth.

5)  A have a borderline phobia of balloons.  No joke.  It's gotten better since I've had children, due to the fact that when you have kids, balloons seem to be part of the package. 

6)  Words I love:  Aubergine, ephemeral, mellifluous, conundrum, giblet, button, fig, pin, & nibblet.  Words I despise:   Comely, gubernatorial, genitalia, bowel, beefy, stinky, fickle, milktoast, succotash, fundus, fecund & dud.

"I have never developed indigestion from eating my words."  ~ Winston Churchill

I'm passing on the Gorgeous Blogger award to...

Tabitha of I Choose Bliss

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THE SMITTEN KITTEN ~ SOME GRATITUDE AND GRAPHICS

I'm a smitten kitten and am tickled pink by the generosity and kindness of many of my fellow bloggers this week.  They're simply the cat's meow, so I thought I'd send a little love back into the blogosphere by posting some free clipart/graphics:  3 vintage cat images from my personal collection.  

Download, save, create, enjoy!

 
 

   

 

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CONCIENCIOUS THANKSGIVING OBJECTORS ~ A RARE BIRD?

Thanks to the courageous confession from fellow blogger Nicole at Miss Dot's Cupcake Spot (Read her post "Don't Hate Me, But...", and while you're there check out  Mustache Mondays!)  that she isn't particularly fond of Thanksgiving Food, I feel safe to say that I could contentedly live out the rest of my days without ever eating another bite of Thanksgiving Turkey (Whew!  That felt good!) 

There must be more of us out there who, because they love the tradition, the feasting, and celebration that comes with the holiday, hide our true feelings.  Somehow, not liking a slice of bird with cranberry sauce feels, well, kinda un-American.  Hmmm....I'm feeling a support group coming on ~ The First Annual Congregation of the AntiTurkarian Holidationalists?  If you thought I was weird for not liking Turkey, well, now I've really gone and done it!

Some AntiTurkarians, like my friend Nicole, turn to desserts (specifically PIE) for their Thanksgiving salvation.  Not having much of a sweet-tooth myself (although we do share a weakness for Pecan pie), I look to trying new side-dishes each year that will compliment the cuisine at my mom's and provide respite for the turkey-weary.

As always (I hope) my griping and whining does lead somewhere:  To two recipes that I tried last year, that met with rave reviews from Traditionalists and AntiTurkarians alike.  They were simple to prepare, could be prepared in advance, and traveled well. 

ROSE'S BAKED ARTICHOKE HEARTS

from Martha Stewart

BAKED SPINACH AND GRUYERE

from Real Simple

Is there a secret something you've been harboring guilt over disliking? 

Get it off your chest! 

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FELT FOLLIES: THE CATNIP MOUSE PROJECT & TUTORIAL

Felt is Versatile. 

Felt is Forgiving. 

Felt is Fun. 

Today, the girls and I gathered some supplies (most we had around the house) and made some adorable catnip mouse toys to donate to the preschool winter carnival, and to give to our sweet neighbors who recently adopted a pair of kittens.

This charming little projects makes the perfect gifts for your feline friends.

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PUMPKIN WHOOPIE (!) PIES WITH CREAM CHEESE VANILLA BEAN FILLING

Today the girls and I dug back to our Pennsylvania roots and baked up a batch of delicious Pumpkin Whoopie Pies!  Max mixed the batter.  Maddie made the filling.  And Bessie, our beloved family cow, kept time with her tail to the tune that Pa played on the fiddle.  I'll leave it to you to figure out where I've embellishmed my story (just a little). 

They're very simple to make and as Bessie will tell you, are "udderly" delicious.  Still with me?  Well, bless your heart! Here's the recipe:

Pumpkin Whoopie (!) Pies

with Cream Cheese Vanilla Bean Filling

Makes 9

For the “Pies”

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup canola or vegetable oil
• 1 cup canned pumpkin
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 325. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.  Lightly butter each sheet of parchment.

Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and spices together in a medium bowl and set aside. 

In the bowl of a standing mixer, mix eggs and sugar on medium speed until smooth and lightened in color (about 1 minute). On low speed, mix the oil, pumpkin, and vanilla until blended. Stir in the flour mixture to combine.

Using a regular ice cream scoop, scoop dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing the mounds at least 2 inches apart. Scoops should be level, not heaping.  

Bake the “pies” one sheet at a time on the middle rack of the oven, until the tops feel firm and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out dry( about 16 minutes).  Allow to cool completely before filling.

For the Whoopie (!)

• 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter, room temperature
• 4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ vanilla bean, scraped
• 1-1/2 cups confectioners (powdered) sugar

In the bowl of a standing mixer, beat together butter, cream cheese, vanilla extract and vanilla bean scrapings.   

Mix until incorporated, scraping down bowl as needed. Increase the speed, continuing to mix until light and fluffy. 

Chill until pies have cooled and are ready to fill.

To fill, simply scoop a heaping Tablespoon of filling on to one “pie”.  Top with another and gently press.  Finish by dusting with powdered sugar.

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Pumpkin Butter ~ A Dippy Love Story and Recipe

A few years ago my husband and I were in charge of making snack at my daughter's preschool.  On the top shelf of the oven, one of the teachers had an apple pie baking.  On the middle and bottom shelves we were baking grilled cheese sandwiches (Monterey Jack cheese on Milton's Original Whole Grain Bread).  As is oft to happen with fruit pies, the apple pie bubbled over, coating the corner of one of the sandwiches below with sweet, cinnamony goodness.  Mr. Rook, a big fan of trying unusual food combinations eyed the syrupy sandwich with eager anticipation.  I, however, was wary.  Perhaps it's un-American, but I'm not really a huge fan of apple pie (gasp!).  Smooth-talker that he is, Mr. Rook talked me in to trying a bite and, "WOW!"  It was fantastic!  Unfortunately, this accidental delicacy was in short supply.  So, that evening, we made up a batch of the same grilled cheese sandwiches.  Because we didn't have an apple pie on hand, and hoping to find a way of getting more immediate gratification, we heated up some of our homemade apple butter.  Mr. Rook, spicy devil that he is added a touch of hot sauce to his "dip".  "Shazamm!"  A taste sensation!

As apple time rolled in to pumpkin time, we tried the same approach with homemade pumpkin butter.  It's ridiculous how delicious it is when warmed and served as a sandwich dip! Does this sound weird to you?  Having a hard time buying the concept? Don't make that face.  I know you're making that face.   I dare you to try it.  I just dare you!  You'll thank me some day.

To get you started on your bold new sandwich dipping adventure, please enjoy (and try) my family's recipe for easy and delicious homemade pumpkin butter.  I believe the secret to its perfection is in its simplicity.  It also makes a lovely hostess gift:

Pumpkin Butter
makes 2 quarts

6 cups cooked, mashed, or canned pumpkin

4 cups granulated sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
pinch of salt

Combine all ingredients in a large stock pot saucepan; stir well.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered for 30 minutes until mixture is smooth and thickened.   Pour pumpkin butter into sterilized jars, filling to 1/4 inch from top.  Wipe jar rims clean.  Seal jars with metal lids and bands.  Process in a boiling water bath for 15 minutes.

What unusual food combinations have you come across in your culinary adventures?  Do share!

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ATTACK OF THE TWO TON TIGGER...OR, WHAT I'M THANKFUL FOR

Dear Food,

I hate you.  No, wait, I love you!  You are tasty, cozy, cooling, warming, complex, powerful, subtle, a delicious art form, and possess the power to evoke memories and bring people together.  At the moment, however, I resent you. 

It is because of you and your irresistible deliciousness that I was not able to fit in to my cute little vintage WW II nurse costume this Halloween.  That's how I ended up in my husband's Tigger costume.  It had been in the garage for several years and had thereby accumulated more dust than the surface of Mars.  Halloween was a cold night and the Tigger costume looked warm.  After all, it's made of heavy-duty fleece and is made for a 6' 5" man.  I saw warmth and comfort and I went for it.  Nevermind the fact that I'm asthmatic and that the two greatest triggers for said affliction are dust and cold weather.  What was I thinking?  Apparently I wasn't! 

So I spent the week following Halloween with a head full of snot goblins, which, as always, eventually made their way down to the party in my lungs.  Huffing and wheezing my way through the week I finally had the good sense to call my doctor and request some albuterol refills for my at-home-nebulizer (imagine the caterpillar in Alice in Wonderland meets ET when he's hooked up to tubes in the big white tent).  Within about fifteen minutes I went from pallid and pathetic back to feeling like myself again.

So it was at that moment that I realized how lucky we are to be living in the age of modern medicine!  With all the talk lately about our broken healthcare system, the National plan, the hospital lay-offs, the H1/N1 vaccine controversy, the high prices we pay for healthcare and insurance, and the corruption in the insurance industry, it's easy to lose sight of the fact that despite these big issues, we are darn lucky to be living in the 21st century, with all its advances in medicine!

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, I can't help thinking of those poor Pilgrims (and even more so, the Native Americans that were wiped out by our Euro-germs).  Had I been a Pilgrim, I wouldn't have made it past the age of fourteen.  At fourteen, my appendix burst.  The discovery wasn't made until a few days later after the deflated organ began to go toxic.  Had my mom not taken me to the hospital when she did, wherein an x-ray revealed that I needed immediate surgery, I would have been a goner. 

If somehow I had miraculously lived to see another day in Plymouth, I would have certainly died half a dozen times due to Asthma. 

And if by the grace of God, the Massachusetts air was allergen free and thereby gentle on my fragile lungs, I would have definitely been one of those poor women who died in childbirth!  This is probably TMI, but Madeleine (bless her little heart) would simply not come out my narrow pelvic area, so an emergency caesarean was in order.  I am so, so lucky to be alive and so is she!

For all its problems, ills, and corruptions, I am still very thankful that modern medicine has allowed me to enjoy not 14, not 25, and not 30, but 37 Thanksgivings...and COUNTING!

Sincerely,

Jenn

vintage postcard of Burial Hill, Plymouth, MA

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