Countdown to Christmas: A Nativity Set for Peanut

 



Earlier this week, Annalyn got a special package in the mail from her Grandma & Grandpa Eddie.  It was her very own nativity set.  This Little People Nativity Set is so sweet, complete with a light-up star and "Away in a Manger."  What a fun and special gift!  I'm sure she will enjoy it for years (hopefully in place of playing with Mama's Willow Tree Nativity Set, which is also an ongoing collection from the Eddies).

With just 11 days until Christmas, I wanted to share this adorable set as an idea for the little people in your life.

Countdown to Christmas: Great Grandma Hanke's Sloppy Joes

Here's a super easy, delicious recipe that was originally my Great Grandma's.   I love this recipe because it's so simple and can be made in a slow cooker or on the stove.  It's perfect for busy weeknights or days filled with Christmas baking!  We also like it for big family get-togethers (but be sure to at least double this recipe).  The sauce is flavorful but mild, which makes it perfect for kids from 1 to 92 (coincidently, that's about how old Peanut & her Great-Great Grandma are!).



Great Grandma Hanke's Sloppy Joes

Ingredients:

- 1 lb. ground beef (or turkey)

- 1/2 onion

- salt/pepper to taste

- 1 cup water

- 1 T. flour

- 1 cup ketchup

- buns



Countdown to Christmas: Mama's Favorite Baby Items

With Christmas just days away, here are some of my favorite pregnancy/baby items you may want to add to your Christmas list.  These have helped make our last year sooo much better/easier/more fun... you get the picture! 

Mama's favorite gift :)



Countdown to Christmas: Chicken Pot Pie Makeover

This is my makeover version of the Lady & Sons chicken pot pie.  When we went to Savannah a couple years ago, I got to go to Paula Deen's restaurant and try her chicken pot pie.  As I always hoped and expected, it was amazing.  Lucky for me, the recipe can be found online here.  I finally decided to try to make it, so I typed it into Weight Watchers to see how many points per serving it would be (honestly, I knew it wouldn't be good, but I was curious).  Any guesses? 

Mine wasn't even close to the whopping 43 points per serving that it came out to be when I typed it into the recipe builder on WW.  After seeing that number, there was no way I could bring myself to make it (disclaimer:  I fully intend to order it again if/when I get to go back to Savannah... You've seen those quotes on Pinterest like "Christmas calories don't count"... well neither do Paula's in my book.  But mine do!).  So cue the montage music, because here comes the makeover!

Lady & Sons Chicken Pot Pie Makeover

Ingredients:

- 5 sheets fillo dough (no, this is not the same as puff pastry, but it's lower in calories and gives a similar effect)

- 1 egg, beaten

- 2 cups leftover cooked chicken

- 2 T. olive oil (for cooking the chicken, if already cooked, omit)

- 4 T. yogurt butter (or margarine)

- 2/3 c. flour

- 3 cups fat free evaporated milk

- 1/2 c. chicken stock

- 1 T. minced garlic

- 1/2 small yellow onion, minced

- 1 c. frozen peas, cooked

- 1 c. chopped cooked carrots

- pinch fresh nutmeg, optional

- salt and pepper, to taste

- it wasn't part of the original recipe, but I'd recommend adding 1/2 t. each of paprika and thyme.  The flavor of the original recipe relies greatly on the richness of the butter and cream.  By substituting healthier options, you lose some of this, so I added these spices to perk it back up.

** My makeover version is only 11 points per serving and makes 6 servings (the original claimed it to be only 4 servings, but very large servings).



Countdown to Christmas: Gift Idea - Custom Jewelry by Bicursal Designs

 

How beautiful and unique is this necklace?!  Recently I found out that one of my coworkers makes gorgeous custom jewelry.  He and his girlfriend are the artists behind Bicursal Designs, a line of hand-carved natural wood, stone, and sterling silver jewelry.  Of course, I was curious.  When I realized that they make everything custom order, I had to check it out!

 

2012 Christmas Card Letter

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

This year, in an effort to save paper, ink, time, etc., I’ve decided to put our Christmas card yearly update letter online.  (Plus, I can add more pictures!)  I hope you enjoy this glimpse into our little family’s big year.

Peanut Post: Vegetable Beef Stew Puree



Here's a recipe packed full of nutrients and flavor for my growing girl.  It looks and smells so good that Michael was disappointed when he realized it was for Annalyn's dinner, not his.  I guess I'll have to make it again soon for Daddy!  As written below, it made 4 ice cube trays (plus a little for taste-testing!), or 48 oz.

Vegetable Beef Stew Puree

Ingredients:

- 1 T. olive oil

- 3/4 lb. beef for stew

- 1 small onion (or half medium), finely chopped

- 1/2 c. carrots, chopped or shredded

- 2 celery stalks, finely chopped

- 2 c. vegetable broth

- 1 can crushed tomatoes

- 2 medium potatoes (or sweet potatoes), peeled and diced

- 1 c. baby spinach, tough stems removed

**optional:  Add small pasta (such as stars or alphabets) and shredded cheese just before serving.



Countdown to Christmas: Mom's Rice Pudding

Here is a recipe that is near and dear to my heart - my mom's rice pudding.   My mom and her mother before her would often make this recipe on cold winter nights as an after dinner treat and we'd eat leftovers for breakfast the next day.  This is truly comfort food at its best.  It was a bit of a challenge to actually write down ingredients and directions since it's one of those recipes I've learned by watching Mom, and she learned by watching her mom, and Grandma doesn't measure - not anything - not ever!  But this time, I took notes and paid close attention to what I was doing so I could share it with you.  I hope you enjoy this family favorite as much as we do!

Grinch pajama party to kick off the Christmas season!

Mom's Rice Pudding



Ingredients: (for a whole family, double this recipe)
- 1 c. white rice
- 2 c. water
- 3 T. butter
- 1/2 c. sugar (more or less, to taste)
- 1 c. milk
- 1 t. vanilla
- cinnamon, to taste



Split Pea Soup

Here's an oldie but goodie courtesy of my favorite Betty Crocker cookbook.  This simple, delicious, and belly-warming soup is an Eddie family favorite on cool winter days.  It's by far my favorite thing to do with leftover ham (and the ham bone!), but I'll also make it with diced ham as I did this week.  Split peas are so high in fiber and protein, while low in fat, making this a hearty, healthy meal.  Pair it with corn bread or serve alone.  I even let Peanut try some, and she loved it (of course, it's green!).  I usually make it on the stove, but this time I tried it in the slow cooker.

Split Pea Soup

Ingredients:

- 1 lb. bag split peas, rinsed

- 8 cups liquid or 7 if using slow cooker (Betty recommends water, but I like to replace at least half the water with chicken stock)

- 1 c. chopped carrots

- 1 c. chopped celery

- 1 c. chopped onion

- 1 ham bone or about 1 c. of diced ham

- salt and pepper, to taste

Dried Beef & Pickle Dip

This is a dip version of one of my favorite snacks - pickles coated in cream cheese, wrapped in dried beef, then cut into slices.  Honestly, I never would have thought to make it like this, but my mom called me from Nebraska one time just to tell me about this amazing dip that my cousin, Jill, had made.  Thank you, Jill, for re-imagining this one for us - it's so much better this way!  I lightened it up a bit by using reduced-fat and fat free options of cream cheese and sour cream (or greek yogurt, if you have on hand).   We decided it was the perfect dip to make to celebrate the Huskers being in the Big Ten Championship, so I doubled the recipe below.

Go Big Red!!!



Dried Beef & Pickle Dip



Ingredients:
- 3 oz. dried beef
- 8 oz. reduced fat cream cheese
- 1/2 c. fat-free or reduced fat sour cream (or greek yogurt)
- 3 T. chopped green onions
- 1 c. chopped dill pickles (not relish)
- 1/4 t. pepper
- 1/4 t. garlic powder
- 1/2 t. dill weed



Makes 8 servings, 3 WW pts each.  **Serving suggestions:  small rye bread, crackers, etc.  Adding 8 Triscuits per serving = 7 WW pts per serving.  The dill flavored Triscuits are especially delicious with this one!