Christmas Facebook Poll: The Results

This past Monday I conducted a very informal Facebook poll. Basically, I posted the following photo and asked for help in deciding how to decorate our kitchen credenza for Christmas. The options included: A/ trees and greenery; B/ greenery only; and C/ trees only.

Here's how the voting went down:


A/ 27 votes
B/ 9 votes
C/ 4 votes
A/ or C/ 3 votes


There were also some issues ...


Issue #1: The light switch! Thanks to Mary Louise for bringing that up, and thanks for reminding me how annoying it is. That light switch, which is TWO FEET away from the edge of the doorway, limited us on what kind of artwork we could put on that wall; in other words, nothing HORIZONTAL. Boo light switch. We also have issues with floor registers -- our builder put one where any normal person would put a piece of furniture.


Issue #2: Baby Jesus! People were passionate about whether the infant Jesus should be placed in his manger, or hidden away until Christmas morning. In our family, we've always had baby Jesus in the manger, but for several years we kept the wise men in another room and every day moved them closer to the manger. But holy moly that was work trying to get the timing just right -- some days the Magi took baby steps, while other days they took giant steps. Baby Jesus in the manger or not, in the words of Tevya from Fiddler on the Roof it all boils down to one word: Tradition!


Issue #3: The snow! Several of you mentioned that you didn't like the trees because they were covered in snow and it doesn't snow in the Holy Land. Well, I had to look this up and, believe it or not, it does occasionally snow in Bethlehem. At an elevation of 2300 feet the area is dry but not necessarily hot, which means snowfalls do occur.


Issue #4 The snow! Truthfully, I have had those trees for years but never included them in any of our manger scenes. I have no problem with a snowy manger scene, but if there is snow on the trees then there should be snow on the greenery and on top of the stable. #AmIRightOrAmIRight?


Now before I reveal my decision, I will say I liked the fullness provided by the greenery, and I liked the coziness of the trees, but I didn't like them together (again, Issue #4) (also, I don't like things to be fussy). I waffled for a couple of days, but then this morning I decided on the greenery ... but more of it. I also went with the real stuff. So after I went foraging in my parents' back yard and a secret location in town (if you take me out for coffee I MIGHT reveal my secret stash) I came up with this ...

P.S. Now about that light switch ... just ignore it ;-)

Because everyone needs a turkey on their head

A few years ago our entire family celebrated Thanksgiving on Hilton Head, and to commemorate the occasion Nonna gave everyone turkey hats. Most of us wore them indoors -- under duress (no hat, no food!) -- but these two wore them everywhere. And they got lots and lots of attention.

We still have those hats. They're in our hat box. You can borrow them if you'd like. 

 

two turkey walking on the beach

a turkey taking in the view

two turkeys playing cards with Nonno

A Thanksgiving Centerpiece in Four Easy Steps

My friend Mary Louise is a master gardener. She hosts workshops, gives talks, and blogs at MLCHgarden.com where her motto is cultivating life one garden at a time. Recently she did a Facebook Live tutorial for an easy Thanksgiving centerpiece. At first I was wary because easy for Mary Louise means totally the opposite for many people (like me). But here's the other thing about Mary Louise: she can also be very inspirational, so after I watched her tutorial I thought, "I can do this!"


And I did.


And so can you.


Here's a list of everything you need to make Mary Louise's Thanksgiving centerpiece: pumpkins, moss, adhesive spray, and succulents. It's so easy you won't need to take notes ... just follow the photo tutorial.

~1~ Assemble your supplies.

~2~ Grab a handful of moss, shape it, spray one side with adhesive spray, and plop it down on top of your pumpkin. No scooping pumpkin innards!

~3~ Remove a succulent from it's container and break up the root ball. Then, make an opening in the moss and insert the succulent. Repeat until your pumpkin top is covered.

~4~ Fill in spaces with additional moss (I used three different types).

That's it ... four easy steps to create a centerpiece which will transform your Thanksgiving table.

(P.S. Mary Louise says that in order to keep the succulents fresh, just mist lightly with water. Then, whenever you're ready to get rid of the pumpkins simply remove the succulents and transplant them into pots or containers.)

Goodbye Green Bean Casserole

I know, I know. The green bean casserole -- the one made with cream of mushroom soup and generous sprinkling of fried onions -- has been a Thanksgiving staple in households across the United States.


But ... ick. Of all the Thanksgiving dishes, this is my least favorite. Sorry! For years it appeared on our Thanksgiving table, and for years everyone took a small spoonful -- a very tiny spoonful -- and moved on to more delicious dishes.


Then several years ago I thought: why do we keep making something no one really likes? So that year I served Bacon-Wrapped Green Bean Bundles instead. They were a HUGE hit, and the green bean casserole was quietly retired.


So, here is my recipe. You're welcome.

Bia's Bacon-Wrapped Green Beans

3/4 pound fresh, French-style green beans

1 pkg. pre-cooked bacon

3 tbsp. butter, melted

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 tsp. garlic salt

1/8 tsp. soy sauce

1- Blanch green beans (do not overcook because they will continue cooking in the oven).

2- Drain beans. Place 8 beans on each bacon strip. Wrap bacon around the beans and place bundle seam down on a shallow baking dish.

3- In a small bowl, combine butter, brown sugar, garlic salt, and soy sauce. Brush mixture over the green bean bundles.

4- Bake at 400 degrees for 10-15 minutes or until warm.

NOTES:

1- Use the thin, French style green beans (keep the tips on). I get mine at Costco. Thick beans don't work well and don't present as nicely.

2- You can use regular bacon, but you will have to cook the bacon before assembling the green bean bundles (heat the bacon until cooked, but not crisp). I used to do it this way, but using pre-cooked bacon simplified my life.

3- To save time, I assemble the green bean bundles ahead of time (even the day before) then brush them with the sauce and place them in the oven before serving.

4- Green beans should be crisp and NOT mushy.

5- The recipe is easily doubled (or tripled).

Sunday's lunch ... sometimes I'm not feeling it

Every Sunday we have lunch with my parents, a long-standing tradition of sit down meals which we take turns hosting (Creating Memories with the Sunday Dinner). Of course, I like the Sundays when we all traipse over to Nonna and Nonno's house for lunch because it means I do absolutely nothing all day long. What about dinner, you ask? Well, lunch at my mom's is a big affair, so if anyone is still hungry later I hand them a bowl and a spoon and point them to the row of cereal boxes in the pantry. See? I do nothing. Those Sundays are my absolute favorite.


But every other Sunday it's my turn to host, and even though it requires some effort on my part I really enjoy the opportunity to try new recipes and set a pretty table.


Most of the time.


Sometimes, though, I'm just not feeling it. Take today, for example. Last night I started making out my grocery list and realized that with the older boys coming home Monday (which means I feel compelled to cook all their favorite meals), and with my entire family here for Thanksgiving, I was going to be in the kitchen most of the week.


So I made a decision. Normally I would serve something like this for our Sunday dinner: melon and prosciutto, bruschetta, chicken saltimbocca, roasted potatoes, and an apple crostata served with espresso for dessert.


But today, I did this and called it an indoor picnic . . .

I'm not being paid for this endorsement ...

but since it's for my sister maybe I'll get a freebie.


All kidding aside, Laura's Etsy site (Alleluia Rocks) has some wonderful gift ideas for the upcoming holidays -- place settings, nativities, ornaments, and her best-selling story stones. She also paints wedding favors, inspirational quotes, and teachers' gifts. Check out her site; once you place an order it ships quickly (within a couple of days) and arrives beautifully packaged. Gift wrapping is also available.

My recent purchases include ...


1- These place settings for our Thanksgiving table,

2- and Christmas gifts for my Bunco group. These just arrived today; I won't tell you what they are because some of my Bunco gals may read this and we wouldn't want to ruin the surprise, but I wanted you to see how beautifully they are wrapped (I had requested that my purchases be individually wrapped, and Laura delivered!)

So, check out her site, Alleluia Rocks. And if you mention me, then maybe I'll get that freebie after all ;-)


I have my eye on this one ...

chocolate and puddles and spoons

I was walking outside with our youngest son, who was four years old at the time. It had rained the night before and as I stepped over and around the puddles, he was jumping right in.


"How do you make mud?" I asked him as he made a truly spectacular splash.


He stopped to think for a minute. Then he smiled.


"First you dig a hole, then you put water and chocolate in it," he answered as he hopped over to the next puddle. "Next time let's bring a spoon."


I had forgotten this conversation until yesterday when I came across it in my journal. That cute little boy, who used to lick the foam off the top of my cappuccino, is now thirteen years old. He's playing basketball, finishing up a Future City science project, insisting (like boys everywhere) that he  does NOT need to wear a coat, and likes talking about engines and gears.


He's also taller than I am and yesterday when I needed to open a jar which was tightly sealed, I handed it to him and he popped it right open.


Sometimes it takes my breath away to stop and savor those moments when you realize your little boy is shedding his childhood and approaching life -- hesitantly, messily, but most assuredly -- as a young man. It is very humbling, more than a little scary, and all kinds of marvelous.


But I do miss those days of chocolate and puddles and spoons.