Stuff

The morning started with the cat sleeping on my legs taking away my ability to move and go back to sleep. 8:30 wasn’t bad but I really had hoped to sleep until 9:00. Knowing I had a mountain of cooking and cleaning to do today, I decided to get up and start the day leaving Joel in bed until 9:00. I like Saturday mornings because I don’t have to have the tv on first thing, I can sit and have my coffee and quiet time and then get started on normal chores before he even wakes up. It gives me “my time.”

So I started my day. I had my coffee, quiet time, and started to reply to emails that I hadn’t done in 2 weeks. 1 batch of cookies are already done (note to self – don’t half the chocolate crinkle recipe – they don’t turn out nearly as well.) 3 more kinds to finish today and then my baking will be complete. I had Friday off from work so I spent the day shopping and baking. I’m trying 2 new recipes, Chocolate Peppermint Pinwheels and Peanut Crescents. Both I think will stick around as favorites.

Belle Zora and Joanna will come this afternoon to get help on monogramming the baby blankets for our Sunday School class. Joel and I will put up lights on the house finally. We had all but decided not to do it this year as we don’t have an 11 foot ladder and I don’t like him trying to climb on the roof, but I found a reacher at the store to help put lights up so I think we’re going to give it a try. Why buy another reacher when I hated the necessary evil in the first place? Oh, my original one is in storage somewhere with Mom and Dad and now that my pride isn’t so much an issue in that area – I need it.

Joel and I watched Polar Express for the first time last night. We absolutely loved it. I think this is a movie that I will definitely want to watch each year. We saw Narnia last week and thought it was great as well. There are still many movies out there that I’d like to see but I don’t dare broach the idea until after the Christmas spending is over. Three years ago I never would have thought twice about spending $200 shopping in one episode. Now, I cringe.

The recipe for my turkey sandwiches were requested so I’m going to go ahead and give it out.

1 loaf ciabatta or French bread (14 – 16 inches long, ends trimmed.
Pesto Mayo – recipe follows
1/4 cup Craisens or Dried cherries
3 Tablespoons coarsely grated Parmesan
1 pound sliced baked turkey breast
2 cup chiffonade Romaine lettuce

Cut the bread in half lengthwise. Spread mayo on both sides of bread to taste and add cranberries or cherries across both slices. Top the cranberries with a light layer of cheese and arrange the sliced turkey evenly over the cheese. Top with lettuce. Top with other layer of bread. Use toothpicks to secure and slice for individual servings.

Pesto Mayo
1 cup fresh basil leaves
1/3 cup light toasted pine nuts
1 T minced garlic
1/2 t salt
1/4 t pepper
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan
1/4 cup mayo (store bought or homemade)

In a food processor or blender, combine the basil, pine nuts, garlic, salt, and pepper and puree, scraping down the sides as needed. With the machine running, add teh oil through the feed tube and process until the mixture is thick and smooth. Add the parmesan and process for 15 seconds. Transfer to a bowl and cover tightly and refrigerate. This will keep for 3 days refrigerated. Yields 3/4 cup.

These sandwiches yielded me the compliment of: “You and Holly should start a catering business.” I don’t know that I would go that far with my ability but it was definitely nice to hear. Baking maybe but I don’t know how good I am at everyday fair.

I finally finished Lily’s stocking this morning. I glued the whiskers on last night and allowed them to dry. Today, I sewed over the glued to make a nose. This stocking doesn’t have the bell fringe on it like Flala’s but Lily has already found the whiskers to play with. She’s really coming into her personality. She is an attention pig to say the least now days and she is into laying in my palm tree pot and sitting in a box in the living room. I can’t bare to throw the box away because she likes it so. It’s been funny because Flala doesn’t bother that box. She doesn’t try to eat it or sit in it. She seems to know that her box is in the office and that one is Lily’s. Keeping them out of the tree has been a challenge this year. I can’t imagine what it would be like if I had a real tree. It would probably be on the floor by now several times over.

Everything is just about done for me. A few more cookies to do, tins to put together and deliver, two more parties to attend (1 for the general work group and then another one for the directors at work,) and meal planning is in the works. Most of all, shopping is finished! I’m ready to see my family and spend some quality time with each of them. Seeing the kids picture yesterday brought tears to my eyes. “My kids” are growing up so fast and I feel so out of touch with day to day happenings and likes and dislikes. It’s been an heightened emotion for me as I have tried to shop for stocking stuffers. I take comfort in the fact that I know I’m not alone in my feelings and the distance will be shortened in a few more days if only for a brief time. I’ll relish in the time I’m given.