Friday, December 10, 2010

Campbell Copy Center Christmas Banquet

Tonight was our company banquet at my sister's house.
Faith and Suetta fixed the food and did a wonderful job.
Anyone that was present could testify how good it was.

I went down early to arrange flowers for the table.

Let the fun begin.

The main centerpiece. Christmas ornaments are a great filler,
they don't wilt and cost less than real flowers.

The whole table.


We bought the boss an ipad for Chirstmas. His face tells it all.

A big thanks goes to these hardworking ladies.

Good night,
Hope

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Baked Corn

This recipe came from my Grandma Shank.
She is a very special lady who I hope
to be like someday.

This creamy, pudding like dish is hard to beat.
I get tired of the same ol' creamed corn.

Thickening on the stove.
 
Ready for the oven.

Bake until firm.

Dig in and enjoy it's goodness.

Bake Corn
2 cups of corn
2 Tsbp. of fat (yes, I mean lard)
1 1/2 Tsbp. of flour
1 cup milk
1 Tsbp. sugar
1 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
2 eggs

In a small saucepan melt fat and add the flour. Stir until smooth.
Add milk gradually and bring to boiling point, stirring constantly.
Add corn, sugar, salt and pepper and heat thoroughly.
Remove from heat and add beaten eggs.
Pour in a greased baking dish. Bake at 350 for 35 minutes
or until corn is set. Serves 4 folks.

p.s. You know it's and old recipe when it calls for fat.
Butter probably would work too.

Enjoy,
Hope

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Christmas Cookies

Today I went to Mom's for our annual cookie bake/exchange.
It included the Noel farm ladies and my friend Karana.
Everyone brings their cookie dough and we bake
our cookies at Mom's and then exchange them.

This year we baked 1,300 cookies in all.
(toot, tooting my horn, sorry)
It's not about the amount or what we baked,
but it's about spending time together.

 Karana's filled oatmeal cookies.

My coconut cookies.

Aunt Shirley's chocolate crinkles.

Brenda's orange glazed cookies.

Faith's molasses crinkles.

Beth's spritz cookies.

Mag's German chocolate cookies.

Mom's monster cookies.

Those who wanted to exchange candy brought it already made.

Mom's peanut butter balls.

My Martha Washington candies...

that Josh helped me make last night.

I didn't get photos of all candy.
Mag made hard tack candy and Faith made peanut butter clusters.

 Most of the crew in action.

Mom proceeded to put aprons on everyone from her stash.

We start our helpers at a young age.

 Meredith coating the cookies with sugar.

Austy watching the white chocolate freeze on his mom's cookies.

Sorry I can't post all these recipes for you.
If you really, really want a recipe leave a comment
and I will get it for you.

Blessings,
Hope


Saturday, December 4, 2010

Christmas Wreath Making

Every year, for the past three years, I invite a group
of my friends over to make Christmas wreaths.

We had a wonderful time- Christmas music playing,
hot coffee to sip and each others company.

I usually make a wreath for myself and then
make some as gifts for my close friends.
It's a inexpensive yet personal gift they 
can enjoy for a few months.
I reuse their grape vine wreaths from last year
and refill it for them as a gift.

An overview of our wreath making table with Suetta.

Sheri all happy about her bow.

Her finished product, ready to grace their chimney.

Karana wiring on her bow.

My dear, sister Faith came too.

Just buy a grape vine wreath for about $3.99, add the pine and trimmings,
and you have yourself a savvy gift.
(LL Bean sells their real wreaths for $45.00. $ave Big!)

 There are so many options to add to your wreath.
You can add pine cones and berries...
or fake fruit that looks real.

My sister brought these charming bells.
"You can also eat them for fiber," says Sawyer Jay.



Clusters of pine cones and berries are hard to beat.

Magnolia leaves add a classy touch.

Ribbon options are endless.



Multi-tasking aunt Hope.

A few of us made Christmas centerpieces.

Later we coated pretzel sticks with white and dark chocolate.
Another Holiday gift idea that's personal and thrifty.

The finished gift.

By the end of the day fourteen wreaths were made.
We are thinking of making some and selling them next year.
Let me know if you are interested.

Blessings,
Hope

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Thanksgiving Fun

The day before Thanksgiving, I hosted the Noel Farm Thanksgiving dinner.
I had the children come early to play and make crafts.

We had a grand time making a big ol' mess,
with icing up to our elbows.

Meredith adding the feathers.

Trenton adding a beak.

Amanda and I making a mess.

The final product.

We made an Oreo turkey for each plate and
then made turkeys from paper bags.
Gotta love their spoon heads.

The boys watching the men shoot skeet's.

26 folks around our table and I'm very thankful for each one of them.

Everyone brought a dish so that made having
a houseful of company very easy.


Wonderful turkey and dressing ball's made by Beth and Maggie.


Mom's sugar cookies.

I made the pies- pecan and pumpkin.


We live in a land of plenty with so much to be
thankful for and we still complain.


 Blessings,
Hope