My Christmas Angels...

Little H

Little Miss

Little Mr

I'm so Blessed...

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Whats For Dinner ~ Meal Plan Monday

I hope everyone had a lovely day yesterday. It was lovely talking to the kids and watching the Grands opening some of their gifts from Santa. Little Mr couldnt get over the fact that Santa had eaten all the cookies.. drank all the milk and Rudolph had eaten the carrot. Proof indeed that a visitor had actually been in their house during the night

Some lovely thoughtful gifts from MrD... a wonderful church service... a late dinner and the day was complete. It came and went so fast.. too fast... and MrD is back in work. Hr has five days to finish packing up the plant...loading massive machinary onto huge trucks and moving them to the new place. Last week he managed to get one moved and up and running so production can continue today..His mind is working over time and hes a little stressed...so we will both be relieved when this week is over.

 So this week we will be living on leftovers and freezer meals . We had a lovely piece of beef... with enough leftover ...plus veggies for a couple of  meals...including a lovely stew.. that MrD can also take to work for his lunches

Here's the menu...

Weekly Plan - 26th December 2020

Monday               Beef and Vegetables leftovers

Tuesday               Chicken Tenders, Potato Wedges, Peas and Coleslaw

Wednesday          Beef and Vegetables Leftovers Stew

Thursday            Crockpot Spaghetti and Meatballs

Friday                  Pizza

Saturday             BBQ Chicken Sliders

Sunday                Loaded Jacket Potatoes

Sunday Thought ~ John 1:14

Wishing you all a very Happy and Blessed Christmas

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Christmas Eve...

Well.. its been a lovely Christmas Eve...

Face timing the grandbabies... and watching Little Miss making cookies for Santa.. 

but all Little Mr wanted... was to see his Gaga's motorbike

Tonights church carol service was lovely...

and yes I cried when we sang Oh Holy Night

Afterwards we called for a hot chocolate 

and drove around the neighbourhood looking at all the lights

And wasnt this Nativity scene glorious... the true meaning of Christmas.

Im now waiting for midnight when I can watch the Littles opening their presents..

Happy Christmas everyone. May it be everything you prayed for 

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

In The Kitchen ~ Creamy Lemon Tart

Thanks to the generosity of my neighbour.. I had a rethink our Christmas desserts. As well as bringing us Tamales on Tuesday... so I didnt have to cook... she brought a bag of lemons fom her tree.

So instead of the intended Eggnog Pie I was going to make... I swapped to a Creamy Lemon Tart

Very quick and easy to make...especially if you buy a premade crumb base... but a word of  caution, This pie is very rich and filling... so dont be tempted to cut a big slice

Plus I just had a thought...it would have looked prettier with a sprinkle of powdered sugar... ah well!

11 (about 160g) full-sheet graham crackers
1/2 cup (62g) salted almonds (I used roasted)
2 Tablespoons (25g) granulated sugar
5 Tablespoons (71g) unsalted butter, melted

Filling 

2 (14-ounce) cans full-fat sweetened condensed milk
3/4 cup (180ml) fresh lemon juice (about 4 lemons)
4 large egg yolks*
garnish: lemon zest, lemon slices, almonds, whipped cream, or meringue topping
. 

• Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C).
• Make the crust: Using a food processor, pulse the graham crackers and almonds together into crumbs
• A few larger pieces of nuts is OK. 
• Pour into a medium bowl and stir in the sugar. 
• Add the melted butter and stir until combined breaking up any large chunks. 
• Pour the mixture into an ungreased 9-inch pie dish. 
• Pat the crumbs down into the bottom and up the sides to make a compact crust. 
• Do not pack down with heavy force because that makes the crust too hard. 
• Pre-bake crust for 8 minutes. 
• Remove from the oven and leave the oven on.
• Make the filling: Whisk the sweetened condensed milk, lemon juice, and egg yolks together. 
• Pour into warm crust.
• Bake the pie for 19–21 minutes or until only *slightly* jiggly in the center. 
• You want it mostly set. 
• Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely on a wire rack. 
• Once cool, cover and chill for at least 1 hour (and up to 3 days) before serving.
• Garnish as desired.
• Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

The Sky's On Fire..

Please excuse the pole...

But last nights sunset was beautiful...

Love and Hugs
Phoebe x

Pies...

The Mince Pies are baked... all ready for gifting... and eating!

The biggest tip I can give you about baking any little pie is when you have greased your pan...put a little baking parchment strip into the bottom (just as I said about freezing them but dont use the cereal bag strips) 

These pies just popped out of the tin without sticking or leaving any burnt on residue... so no scrapping or scrubbing!

Oh...and by the way..

our neighbours Tamales were delicious

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Whats For Dinner ~ Meal Plan Monday

Christmas is underway in the Blue House... although its not official til 2pmon Friday when MrD finishes work. Because of the big move.. he only has Christmas Eve and Christmas Day off.. poor guy. So, we are making the most of it... and enjoying the season in the evenings with a blazing fire, Christmas movies, hot chocolate and treats

All the presents are wrapped and under the tree... the house is as clean as a whistle.. there is festive music playing... and of course the biggest hint that Christmas is here... the Mince Pies are in the oven. 

Meals this week are easy...leftovers, freezer food, a skillet meal and tomorrow... my neighbour is making tamales and wants to bring us some. Very kind.

With just the desserts to make later in the week...Im on track and can enjoy the season..a drive out to see Christmas lights..a candle light service on Christmas Eve... Church and Facetiming the family on the Big Day...

I love this time of year x

Weekly Plan - 12th December 2020

Monday                Leftover Ravioli Lasagne, Garlic Bread

Tuesday                Tamales

Wednesday           Parmesan Chicken Tenders, Mac and Cheese

Thursday              Potato, Sausage, Onion and Peppers Skillet, Poached Eggs

Friday                   Sausage and Mushroom Pizza

Christmas Eve      Chili, Cornbread

Christmas Day      Surf and Turf, Baby Potatoes, Asparagus, Coleslaw

Sunday Thought ~ Luke 2:10

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Happy Anniversary...

Happy Anniversary to my wonderful, kind, hard working, God loving husband

The last eight years have been so happy... and I thank you for being the partner I never thought I deserved, for stepping up to be the father you didnt have to be and the fun loving Gaga/Grandpa our grandchildren adore.

I look forward to growing old with you (even though its coming faster than we thought).. for all the adventures to come and making many more memories

Im very Blessed

Love you MrD x

Traditions..

Never mind Elf on the Shelf… the annual visitor I get to my home is Sammy the Snowman…and unlike the Naughty Elf.. he’s as good as gold. 

Made from cotton balls glued to an old loo roll insert.. by my then four year old daughter.. he has been gracing our tree for 24 years.

And now.. all these years later..her own four year old daughter has made Sammy 2… all ready to grace their tree. Although..he seems to have lost an eye.

And talking of kiddies at Christmas.. Little Mr and Little Miss had their school Nativity plays

Little Miss was an angel...

and Little Mr was a sheep..who refused to wear his black nose.

Angel and Sheep they may have been...but to me they are both Stars!

Dont you love traditions?

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

In The Kitchen ~ Mary Berry's Mincemeat Loaf Cakes

Ive decided not to go overboard with baking this year. I will be making lots of Mince pies as Im giving some as gifts..so I have only done a bit this week

I saw this easy recipe on Instagram. I used the left over chocolate from baking with Little Miss, added some green colouring then dipped some pretzels and made a double layer on parchement paper to make wreaths. Easy!

I made a batch of MrDs favourite cookies... 

Double Chocolate Chewy Fudge Cookies.. 

and I think thats it for cookies

Fruit Cake 

was also on my baking list..

and I went for Mary Berrys Mincemeat Loaf Cakes

a lighter cake,easy to slice and MrD loves it spread with a bit of butter

I also baked one of the Turkey Pot Pies I made after Thanksgiving. 

It made for an easy dinner..and was more delicious than I remember 

So the only things I want to make now are the Mince Pies, and the desserts for Christmas Day

Not as much baking as previous years...but theres only two of us...

and we need to fit into plane seats in March

Mary Berry's Mincemeat Loaf Cakes

You can’t go wrong with a Mary Berry recipe and this one is a real classic that uses up leftover mincemeat. It makes two light, crumbly fruit cakes - one for yourself and one for a friend!

 
150 g soft butter
225 g mincemeat
150 g soft light brown sugar
225 g self raising flour
2 medium eggs
100 g Glace cherries
100 g sultanas
50 g blanched almonds or halved glace cherries, for decoration

• Preheat oven to 180C/160Fan/350F.
• Grease and line 2 1lb (450g) loaf tins.
• Simply mix all the ingredients except for the almonds together until they are well incorporated.
• Spoon the mixture into your loaf tins.
• Stud with the blanched almonds/halved cherries.
• Bake for 1 hour if using 1lb loaf tins or 35-40 minutes for mini loaf tins or until the cakes are shrinking from the sides, risen and golden and a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean.

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Red Mountain Sunset..

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Christmas Parade..

It’s been absolutely bouncing down with rain for the past two days. I’m so glad it came yesterday not Saturday

MrD and I took a walk up to YMCA and watched the start of the SB Children’s Christmas Parade

Lots of fun .. and I especially loved the vintage cars..

I’ve asked MrD if I can have the red one at the end of the video in my Christmas stocking

What do you think my chances are???

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Whats For Dinner ~ Meal Plan Monday

I apologise for the influx of posts... our internet has been playing up terribly... and our electricity was off for a couple of days...again. Hopefully its now sorted...especially as so much has been going on. I have been keeping my "diary" and am now able to post the entries with the photos.

The big news is that MrD's company have finally found a new site and its just over 20 miles away...so much better than the 100+ mile round trip he took every day. So for the next couple of weeks the big move is on for them... and by the new year they should be settled in.

Christmas prep is under control... cards have been written and mailed, most of the shopping is done..and all the presents are wrapped. So I can now enjoy the season... and as there's snow on the mountain.. MrD and will be taking a drive up there for a meal to celebrate our anniversary. 

It really is the most wonderful time of the year 

Weekly Plan - 12th December 2020

Monday              Turkey Pot Pie, Garlic Potatoes, Green Beans

Tuesday               Mexican Shrimp Burritos

Wednesday         Parmesan Pork Chops, Spicy Potato Wedges

Thursday            Crockpot Four Cheese Ravioli Lasagne

Friday                 Spinach and Artichoke Pizza

Saturday             Anniversary Dinner out

Sunday                Hawaiian Chicken Burgers