Years ago I bought a rectangular shaped basket to use for holiday table decorating.
Actually I got one for the kitchen table and one for the dining room table.
They have been used over and over because it is an inexpensive way to have a very
attractive table arrangement. Usually I use Nadina cuttings with some of their
red berries and just stick them in the basket. It is quick, easy and very attractive.
Be careful with berries if you have young children since some of the berries are
poisonous. Another idea is to use small pots of pansies and put them in the
basket or any other small potting plant that is in season and later you can put
them in your yard. Just a note - deer eat pansies so don't put them where deer
can get to them. I use these baskets all year for any holiday or special meal.
Hope you holiday plans are headed in a smooth direction.

Banana Muffins

Things are somewhat stressful right now with my mom in the hospital and I never seem to catch up. Here is a quick and easy recipe that might be good for holiday guest to munch on or to serve with breakfast.

Banana Muffins

1/2 cup Crisco

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

2 large eggs

1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 2 large)

1/4 cup buttermilk

1 tsp vanilla

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour

3/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cups toasted chopped pecans (optional

1. Beat Crisco at medium speed with mixer until creamy. Gradually add brown sugar beating until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time beating just enough to blend after each addition.

2. Stir together mashed bananas, buttermilk and vanilla. Stir flour and next 3 ingredients. Add to sugar mixture alternating banana mixture and flour mixture. Do not overbeat.

3. Spoon batter into 12-18 greased muffin pans (you can use the paper muffin cups to line the pan to save on cleanup). Sprinkle with toasted chopped pecans.

350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center is clean.

If you don't have buttermilk stir 3/4 tsp lemon juice or vinegar into 1/4 cup milk.

Thanksgiving table favors

Let the kids help you make these cute turkey favors for the table. You can also put a name on each one as place cards.

You will need fall colored construction paper, large tongue depressors, 9 oz. paper cups, marker, scissors, ruler, glue

Cut cups to be about 2" tall. (I use a gold colored cup). Cut a tongue depressor in half making 2 heads. Cut 5 pieces of various colored construction paper that are 5 inches by 1 inch for feathers. Make one end rounded.

On half of a tongue depressor make eyes with a marker. Cut a yellow beak and glue it under eyes. Glue the tongue depressor to the cup.

Cut two wings that are 1 inch by 1 inch (make one end round) and glue them on each side of the tongue depressor (rounded end facing back)

Glue the feathers to the back making them fan out.

Fill cups with candy maybe candy corn.

Holiday Corn Casserole

For the past 24 hours I have been sitting in the hospital with my 88 year old mother who was in a little car accident. She has a broken clavicle and hairline fracture of the hip. She's very sore but will be fine after some rest and recuperation. Here is one of her wonderful holiday vegetable recipes. It is loaded with calories but feeds a lot of people.
Corn Casserole
2 cans of Shoe Peg* (white) corn, drained 1 Tbsp. grated onion
2 cans of French style green beans, drained 1 can cream of celery soup
1 cup sour cream 1 stick of butter, melted
1 cup mayonnaise 1 package Ritz crackers**, crushed
1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
Place corn and beans on the bottom of a large casserole dish.
Mix all other ingredients together except crackers crumbs and butter.
Spread over the top of the corn and beans.
Mix cracker crumbs with the melted butter.
Spread over the top of the casserole.
350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes
* Corn may be labeled white corn with shoe peg in small print.
**1 pkg. is from a box that has 3-4 individual rolls of crackers
I use low fat where possible (sour cream, mayo, cheese, soup)

Kids craft - Thanksgiving napkin holder

Thanksgiving napkin holder - fun and easy for the little one to make.

Supplies: washable children's paint and brush, small piece of red construction paper,

9" lightweight paper plates with the ruffle edges,

scissors, marker and tape.

Paint the plate's edges with fall colors. Let dry. Cut a 2 1/2 inch long piece from the red

construction paper. Round one end for the head. Make eyes with a marker and carefully

cut a beak below the eyes in a "V" shape.

When the plate is dry bend the plate at 3 1/2 inches from the front edge and the back edge.

Bend the lower edge of the head piece 1/2 inch and tape it to the bottom of the center front.

Add napkins

Have fun!

Creamy Cranberry Salad

Here we are in the Thanksgiving season. I will be adding some favorite family recipes thorough out the month that can be used for Christmas also. This cranberry salad is very good, quick and can be prepared the day before. That is always a plus when you are having guests.
Creamy Cranberry Salad Serves 12
1 (3oz) package of cream cheese, softened
1 Tbsp. mayonnaise
1 cup of whipping cream ( you can use something like Cool Whip but remember it will have a lot of artificial additive)
1-2 tbsp sugar
1 (8oz) can crushed pineapple in its own juice, drain
2 cups whole cranberry sauce
1/2 cup slivered almonds
Whip cream adding 1-2 tbsp sugar to taste
Set cream aside and blend mayonnaise with softened cream cheese. Then add the whip cream into the cream cheese mixture.
In a separate bowl combine drained pineapple, cranberry sauce and almonds. Pour whip cream dressing over it. Cover and refrigerator overnight. Before serving mix together.

Wisdon and Strength through the Spirit

Today I want to share interesting thoughts from Paul's prayers in Ephesians 1 and 3. I think they are uplifting to all of us but especially for stay at home moms.
Pray for the Spirit of wisdom and the revelation in the knowledge of Him that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so you will know the surpassing greatness of His power towards us who believe. Pray that He will grant you according to the riches of His glory to be strengthened with power through His Spirit. Pray that you will be able to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge. To Him be the glory forever and to all generations because He is able to do far more than what we ask or think.
Pray at all times in the Spirit.

websites for shopping deals

websites for shopping specials

This a time that we need to be as thrifty as possible and with the holidays coming we need to plan our shopping and cut back. I think we need to think hard about what we really need.

The Proverb 31 women in verse 16 considers the field and buys it. One Hebrew meaning for considers is "purpose." So lets think of the "purpose" we are buying something. In verse 27 of Proverbs 31 the woman looks well to the ways of her household. She is our example for managing the household and we should watch our spending as well as teaching our children to do the same.

Here is a list of some websites where you might be able to find a deal, get coupons, rebates and other special offers. I know there are many others but these are good places to start.

retailmenot.com
momsview.com
pricegrabber.com
dealtaker.com
e-bates.com
thesampleking.com
kidsmealdeals.com
half.com
1-800-free-411
avvo.com (free legal advice)

I have been trying to decide what to do with my blog but since I am new at this I will continue with this plan for now. I have added a shopping tip section and my first post there is a list of pesticide levels of some foods. One day my 5 year old grandson grabbed an apple and started eating it and I said wait, let me wash it because it could have bug spray on it. He said "I like bug spray." That is funny now but we don't know what many years of eating pesticides, preservatives, flavor enhancers and who knows what else that is in our foods. So I think it is best to keep it simple. Here is a simple main dish that is easy and my sons loved it when they were growing up.

Onion-Beef Macaroni Casserole
preheat oven to 400 degrees 6 servings
1 1/2 lbs ground beef
1 envelope of onion soup mix (Hain's is a natural brand or you can use Lipton's)
1 - 8 oz. can of tomato sauce
1 tbsp. of flour
2 cups of water
1 cup of raw macaroni, cooked according to package directions
1/4 cup of grated cheddar cheese
In large skillet brown meat, drain off fat. Stir in onion soup mix, flour, tomato sauce and
water. Simmer covered 5 minutes. Stir in macaroni. Turn into 1 1/2 quart casserole dish.
Sprinkle with cheese. Bake 15 minutes.