Keeping Things in Perspective

As we spend the next week putting the wrapping and bows on our Christmas gifts, attending a few more parties, and baking the last our those tasty treats...remember, to take a moment to breathe. This season, especially with all the craziness that is going on around you, is a reminder that the truest gifts are those we hold dear to our hearts. Call a friend, go for a walk or just take 10 minutes to meditate. Just do something for YOU.

Have You Seen Yellowstone?

My dad reached out to me a few weeks ago and said, "Are you watching Yellowstone?". I told him I didn't know what he was talking about. He told me to take a look at the show and let him know what I thought about it. What he neglected to tell me was that the lead in the show is Kevin Costner, which, by the way, makes it a no-brainer that I would watch since he is on my list of top 5 male actors. But the joy didn't stop there, oh no...it got much better when I also found out that Cole Hauser was in the cast. Add in a few other great actors, the backdrop of Montana and crazy good writing and you have the makings of a “don’t-want-to-miss” program.

I won't spoil the show for anyone that has not seen it but I will say that it makes you want to binge for the entire day...maybe even the next day so that you can watch Season 2 as well.

While I did not binge both seasons simultaneously, I watched Season 2 the old fashioned way, waiting like a child on Christmas Eve for the next episode.

My favorite character is Rip, played by Cole Hauser. I can't imagine another actor that could play that role so well. He is every lady's perfect cowboy, and that's before all the packaging (wow)!

I would be remiss to not mention Mr. Costner. He is so good in this show and yes, I am a huge fan. He has lured me to every movie he has ever been in since Silverado, with the single exception of Waterworld...no, huh-uh...I just can’t. 

Yellowstone can be found on the Paramount Network. Its worth the watch if you like a good neo-western family drama with complex characters, some violence, and a ton of sibling rivalry. Give it a shot. You will be craving for news about Season 3, just like me! 

Thanksgiving at the Biltmore

I would have to recommend that a trip to the Biltmore Estate during the holiday is something to add to your bucket list. The decorations are too beautiful to describe and not a single detail is missed. The mansion is decorated as it would have been in the early 1900’s when the Vanderbilt’s would entertain their own guests at Christmas. It’s simply breathtaking.

Below is a video of the grand dining room. This will give you a glimpse into the splendor of that time when ladies and gentlemen were... ladies and gentlemen.

Destination: Asheville, NC

This is a weird holiday year for my husband and me. We are typically surrounded by the kids but as they are aging, getting married and now all grown up, we find ourselves without our family this Thanksgiving (we get Christmas). So, we decided to go on a mini adventure and disappear over the  holiday.

Fortunately the temperatures are forecasted to be mild (as mild as the end of November can be) for the next few days. This is a good thing since we intend on exploring the wonders of the Blue Ridge Parkway in route to our eventual destination of Asheville, NC and Thanksgiving at the Biltmore Mansion.

If you want to follow along on our route, see below for the Blue Ridge Parkway Points of Interest. Its sort of like a scavenger hunt. I'm going to try and catch a selfie at each of the top points of interest. This should be a fun adventure. Keep an eye out for updates!

https://visitncsmokies.com/blue-ridge-parkway/?gclid=CjwKCAiAzuPuBRAIEiwAkkmOSMNEDmERAgkQUHaeHpEXa-xfA7P36fKVR2oG29tdaZw--3oqUg814hoCOsQQAvD_BwE

Easy Embroidered Ornaments

A few years ago I asked for an embroidery machine as my Christmas present. Santa (Nick) delivered my gift on Christmas morning and I have spent many relaxing weekends working on new techniques and projects ever since.

I recently came upon a pattern for these adorable ornaments and spent last Sunday holed up in my craft room cranking out about a dozen of them. Each takes on the look of a decorated sugar cookie. They will be perfect as the decorations on a tabletop tree in the kitchen. You can also wrap up a set to give a friend or use as gift tags. There are lots of clever ideas!

If you have an embroidery machine and want to make some of these cute hanging ornaments, you can! Just  visit https://www.swakembroidery.com/products//mini-christmas-cookie-ornaments-set-4x4 to download the pattern and begin crafting a few special gifts or just make them for your own tree...like me! :)

Broccoli & Rice Casserole

This is one of my favorite dishes during the holiday. I have no idea why I never make it other than Thanksgiving and Christmas. Its old-fashioned comfort food. Delicious and as good the following day as it was when it came out of the oven. Enjoy!


Prep: Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9x13 dish with non-stick cooking spray.

Ingredients:
2 Tbs. Vegetable Oil
1/2 C. Chopped Onion
1/2 C. Chopped Celery
1 Pk. Frozen Chopped Broccoli, thawed
1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup
3/4 can of milk
1 C. Velvetta, cut into squares
1 C. Instant Minute Rice
1/2 tsp. Salt
*** 6 Ritz crackers, crushed


Directions:
1) Using a large skillet or pot, lightly brown the onion and celery in the vegetable oil, over low heat.
2) Add thawed broccoli to the vegetables, cover and let steam for 10 minutes.
3) Add soup, milk, cheese, salt and rice to the mixture.
4) Heat until it is boiling and all the cheese has melted.
5) Pour the mixture into the prepared casserole dish.
6) Top with the crushed Ritz crackers.
7) Bake for 20-30 minutes until lightly browned on top.

Jalapeno Corn Casserole

This has been a recipe favorite of my family for 30 years. It is quick and easy and a favorite of pretty much everyone. You can control the heat by by adding more or less jalapeno to the recipe. It is delicious! :)


Prep:
Pre-heat oven - 350 degrees F., Spray a 9x13 baking dish with non-stick spray.

Ingredients:

3 (11 oz.) cans of vacuum packed white shoepeg corn, drained
1 (8 oz) package of cream cheese, softened
1/3 c. evaporated milk
1/4 tsp. Garlic salt
1 jalapeno, diced (remove seeds)

Directions:

1) In a mixing bowl, combine softened cream cheese and evaporated milk until smooth
2) Fold in drained corn, garlic salt and diced jalapeno pepper
3) Spoon into prepared baking dish.
4) Garnish with sliced jalapenos.

Its Only a Week Away

Well, are you ready for the shopping craziness that will begin tomorrow morning and go on until January? Yeah, me either.

We all know what happens tomorrow, and the grocery stores are even more aware of the frenzy that will take place as ladies...and some men...go in search of the right sized turkey (maybe the free one that the grocery store rewards you with for spending a fortune there each week), the potatoes, Libby pumpkin or the last one of those frozen pie shells. Yes, it is about to be crazy out there and that is before we talk about parking spaces, grumpsters (people that can't get happy), and long long lines.

So, I was thinking, maybe I could help my gal-pals out this year. In one of the chapters of my cookbook,  I made a simple menu with some of our family favorites. No, its nothing like a Martha Stewart menu, on my menu you can find all the ingredients at your local grocery store. Nothing fancy schmancy, just a good time Thanksgiving dinner. I hope its useful for you.

Visit tomorrow for a few of these delicious recipes.

Its Been Too Long

Yes, I've been out of pocket for awhile. The truth of the matter is, I lost my spark for writing. One day I just didn't enjoy it anymore and wanted to do other things. For the past three years I've traveled the US, I took up quilting and hat making, wrote a cookbook, survived menopause and I'm dealing with all of the gravitational changes that happen when a woman passes into her 50's.  

Now that the spark is back, its time to bang out some new ideas and hope that you find inspiration, feel empowered or simply be entertained.

There is not enough space to capture all that has changed over the past three years. For me personally, I have grown as a person and a professional. I am still with the same company...at least parent company. We did move to Pennsylvania a couple years ago as a result of a position change. After 10 years of flying across the US, I was ready for some normalcy in my daily routine and while I still cross much of PA on a regular basis, it is not nearly as taxing as that of my road-warrior companions whom I have shared many air-travel war-stories.

A few major things that happened in the past few years included the addition of two daughter-in-laws, an engagement (wedding is in May 2020), the loss of some close family members, including our beloved dog Burton, who inspired a few of my earlier posts.

Grandchildren???....only the furry kind, but I am patient. I've accepted that we live in a different world nowadays. Young women are as successful, if not more, than their spouses. I am filled with pride that my sons married...and will marry...such extraordinary women. Grandchildren will simply have to wait. :)

That's the quick and dirty update. On to the many areas that I want to write about in the coming weeks and months - holidays, entertaining ideas, recipes, weight (gain and loss), travel destinations, new interests, movies, books, decorating, Pennsylvania...beautiful PA, crafts, and so much more. 

If you enjoyed visiting my blog before, you shall not be disappointed to add it back to your bookmarks and join me once again. I've even made it a little easier, you can add my site address to your favorites - www.teacakesntidbits.com. I hope to post a couple times a week. My creative juices are flowing...look out!

Shopping Just Got Easier

I'm guessing that my Saturday is similar to most of my girlfriends - coffee followed by the list of errands and chores that must be accomplished so that Sunday can be a focused on family, faith, and recharging the battery before a new week begins. 

If you are like me, even an extra hour back on a Saturday is a blessing. Well, I have found that extra hour (or more) in the form of online grocery shopping. Its not just for the rich and famous any more (I write that only halfway joking). Last week I read that my local Walmart was now offering on-line shopping. I typically stay away from Walmart on a Saturday, I prefer the smaller grocery stores to the mammoth-size Walmart variety, but they found a way to get my business by appealing to two things I value ...convenience and quality of my time.

How was my first experience? All the cold items were cold, the fruit and vegetables looked great, and the meats were bagged individually and separately from the rest of the order, There were a couple of missing items BUT I was given a 1-800 number to call if there were any problems and I could not have had a more pleasant customer service experience. The price of the items was credited back to me and for the inconvenience I was given a 10.00 grocery credit on my next order. The most amazing part of the experience was the cost savings! I had no idea how far I deviate from my weekly grocery list. Using the on-line app I just choose what we need and I am not distracted by impulse buys. I can even see what I am spending throughout the entire process. 

Will I use the service again? My order is already placed, I did it this morning while I was snuggled up in my jammies drinking my morning coffee and listening the the birds chirping. No stress, no crowds, no lines! I selected the time I would pick my order up and I was done. The icing on the cake was that I spent half of what I normally do at the grocery store. Cha-Ching!

If the service is in your area and you want to try it out you can use the link for a first-timer $10.00 discount. Now to decide what FUN to have with the time I just got back...Cheers! ;)  https://refer.walmart.com/v2/share/6276204845154650214/00

Famous Brownie Recipe Revealed

After 25 years of making arguably the very best brownie know to man, I thought it would be fun to share the "secret recipe". I have no doubt that ANYONE can make this recipe. The success is mostly in following the directions, exact measurements, and patience. If you are lacking in the ability to do any of these, just have someone make them for you. Here you go! Enjoy the brownie by itself or live on the edge and add some Vanilla Bean ice cream to it. DELISH!!






Recipe:
2  Boxes of Pillsbury (Family Size) Chocolate Fudge Brownie Mix
4  Eggs (regular size)
1-1/3 C. Vegetable Oil
1/2 C. Water
***Baker's Secrets

Directions:

1) Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees
2) Combine all ingredients
3) Mix until all ingredients are combined thoroughly
4) Prep a 13x9 inch baking dish with non-stick spray
5) Pour the prepared brownie mixture into the baking dish
6) Bake for 30-45 minutes***

***Baker's Secret #1- Your brownies will not be ready after 30 minutes but this is where you begin watching them closely. Using a butter knife, gently press it in to the center of the brownies and pull it up slowly. If there is batter on the knife, the brownies are not ready. Add 5 minutes longer to the time and then check again when the timer ends.  Continue to check every 5 minutes until the blade of the knife is clean.

*** Baker's Secret #2 - Make these with love. Every batch that I have made, and there are too many to count, has been made with a love for bringing joy to people. I've been told that they can "taste" the love in every bite.

Enjoy the recipe. I have tested 20 or more recipes in my baking lifetime and none have ever received the praise of this recipe.

Happy Baking! ;)