Christmas Countdown - 2015

[snowflake22]

We went to the Arboretum the other day and they were stringing Christmas lights around the trees preparing for their Christmas festivities that start in November! I was so excited!!!

How awesome!!!

 

[snowflake22]

Thank you Meceka!
I hope you have a merry weekend too!

I have a few stuffed mushroom recipes that I make, I just love them.
These are two of my favorites ~

Classic Stuffed Mushrooms
Ingredients

• 18-24 button or cremini mushrooms, scrubbed clean, stems separated from the caps
• 1 Tbsp butter
• 2 small shallots, minced, about 2 Tbsp
• 1 large garlic clove, minced
• 2 Tbsp chopped walnuts
• Salt
• 2 Tbsp chopped parsley
• 1 teaspoon herbes de Provence or dried thyme
• 2 Tbsp breadcrumbs
• 2 Tbsp sherry or chicken stock
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 2 Tbsp grated parmesan cheese

Method
1 Preheat oven to 375°F.

2 Finely chop the mushroom stems. Heat 1 tablespoon butter in a small frying pan over medium-high heat. Sauté the chopped mushroom stems and the shallots for 4-5 minutes, stirring often. Add the garlic and walnuts and sprinkle with salt. Stir well and sauté 2 more minutes. Turn off the heat and add the parsley, herbes de Provence and breadcrumbs. Pour the sherry into a food processor, then the rest of the stuffing. Pulse several times to get a fine mixture, almost a paste.

3 Toss the mushroom caps with olive oil. Fill each mushroom with the stuffing. Sprinkle grated parmesan cheese over each mushroom and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese browns a little. Allow to cool for 5 minutes or so before serving.


Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms
Ingredients

• 24 ounces, weight White Button Mushrooms
• 1/3 pound Hot Pork Sausage
• 1/2 whole Medium Onion, Finely Diced
• 4 cloves Garlic, Finely Minced
• 1/3 cup Dry White Wine
• 8 ounces, weight Cream Cheese
• 1 whole Egg Yolk
• 3/4 cups Parmesan Cheese, Grated
• Salt And Pepper, to taste

Preparation Instructions
Wipe off or wash mushrooms in cold water. Pop out stems, reserving both parts.
Chop mushroom stems finely and set aside.
Brown and crumble sausage. Set aside on a plate to cool.
Add onions and garlic to the same skillet; cook for 2 minutes over medium low heat.
Pour in wine to deglaze pan, allow liquid to evaporate.
Add in chopped mushroom stems, stir to cook for 2 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Set mixture aside on a plate to cool.
In a bowl, combine cream cheese and egg yolk. Stir together with Parmesan cheese.
Add cooled sausage and cooled mushroom stems. Stir mixture together and refrigerate for a short time to firm up.
Smear mixture into the cavity of each mushroom, creating a sizable mound over the top.
Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden brown.
Allow to cool at least ten minutes before serving; the stuffed mushrooms taste better when not piping hot.

YUM! Thanks for sharing!

 

[AuntieMistletoeDear]

O'Malley somehow managed to place the litter scoop into his litter pan.
I realized he had knocked one of his droppings out and guessing he was trying to clean up his mess, but didn't know how to do it. Sometimes I think he's a special needs cat and then he does something extraordinary and I think he's a genius. If only he could figure out how to sift his messes and toss them into a garbage bag - that would be great! He does this about once a week, but usually he doesn't get the scoop out, instead he runs into the bathroom as if he wants to grab some toilet paper. He'll run in and out of there three times and then meow to tell us he made a mess. Think he has some OCD issues. HaHa.

Heading out to do some shopping shortly; feel like making some homemade soup and buying new clothes. I need some pants with deep pockets to hide my cell phone. I also want to pick up an adorable Fall coloured Owl outfit for a baby that I made myself pseudo Auntie to because her mother was not thought to be able to conceive and they gave up trying a few years ago and then "POOF" like magic they were expecting. She's 8 months old now, healthy, somewhat independent and her mom collects owls. My friend is going back to work on Monday and her daughter is starting child care so I wanted to give them a little surprise.

 

[snowflake22]

Good Morning, Friends of Christmas.

Well, we have arrived at the last weekend before we move into the final third of our countdown to Christmas Day 2015.

Today's numbers:
Days to the Season: 83
Days to Christmas Day: 125

And we're close. We're perilously close. To the 2/3 Christmas Day marker.
In fact we are under-half-a-week-away close.
<< That's close, Crown. >>
Yup. That's close.


Not a bad day at all here yesterday.
The afternoon was actually more comfortable than the morning, thanks to lower humidity readings.
Should be a real nice weekend, and it has commenced at 69 degrees under invitingly clear skies.


Have a Sensational Saturday, Everyone!

Thanks, Crown!
Have a wonderful day!

 

[snowflake22]

Good morning everyone!
Not too much going on here today. My husband had to go in to work today, the girls will all be working as well. I have lots of errands and chores to do so I'll keep myself busy with that. Hopefully we'll all meet up for dinner, I plan on grilling Angus burgers and shrimp kebabs. .I'm going to make potato salad and pick up some fresh corn on the cob at the farmers market.
I hope everyone is well and has a wonderful day!!!

Hope that the errands and chores go well!
Dinner sounds delicious, again! Your family is so lucky to have you!!

How is Maggie going?

Hope you have a blessed day!!

Xo

 

[snowflake22]

O'Malley somehow managed to place the litter scoop into his litter pan.
I realized he had knocked one of his droppings out and guessing he was trying to clean up his mess, but didn't know how to do it. Sometimes I think he's a special needs cat and then he does something extraordinary and I think he's a genius. If only he could figure out how to sift his messes and toss them into a garbage bag - that would be great! He does this about once a week, but usually he doesn't get the scoop out, instead he runs into the bathroom as if he wants to grab some toilet paper. He'll run in and out of there three times and then meow to tell us he made a mess. Think he has some OCD issues. HaHa.

Heading out to do some shopping shortly; feel like making some homemade soup and buying new clothes. I need some pants with deep pockets to hide my cell phone. I also want to pick up an adorable Fall coloured Owl outfit for a baby that I made myself pseudo Auntie to because her mother was not thought to be able to conceive and they gave up trying a few years ago and then "POOF" like magic they were expecting. She's 8 months old now, healthy, somewhat independent and her mom collects owls. My friend is going back to work on Monday and her daughter is starting child care so I wanted to give them a little surprise.

O'Malley is brilliant, as well as handsome!!
Animals are so amazing
Hugs to him!

What a thoughtful thing to do, have fun shopping~

 

[snowflake22]

Good Morning, friends~
Happy Saturday!
Hope you all have a blessed day!

 

[Christmas-A-Holic]

We just went back to the Arboretum this morning for a quick walk and they are still putting up more Christmas lights. If they are starting this early could you imagine how lit up it will be by November??? I cannot wait!!!

 

[snowflake22]

We just went back to the Arboretum this morning for a quick walk and they are still putting up more Christmas lights. If they are starting this early could you imagine how lit up it will be by November??? I cannot wait!!!

It's going to be so gorgeous!!!

 

[DoYouHearWhatIHear]

Merry Saturday! Hope you all have a good weekend! Today we are having my husband's family reunion at my house. We are expecting about 40 people or so.
They are saying partly cloudy...a possible shower, hopefully not but we have tables set up. View attachment 11858 View attachment 11858

Hope you have a great time!!!

 

[DoYouHearWhatIHear]

We went to the Arboretum the other day and they were stringing Christmas lights around the trees preparing for their Christmas festivities that start in November! I was so excited!!!

Wow! That's great! How exciting! It's really not far away now!

 

[DoYouHearWhatIHear]

Good Morning, Friends of Christmas.

Well, we have arrived at the last weekend before we move into the final third of our countdown to Christmas Day 2015.

Today's numbers:
Days to the Season: 83
Days to Christmas Day: 125

And we're close. We're perilously close. To the 2/3 Christmas Day marker.
In fact we are under-half-a-week-away close.
<< That's close, Crown. >>
Yup. That's close.


Not a bad day at all here yesterday.
The afternoon was actually more comfortable than the morning, thanks to lower humidity readings.
Should be a real nice weekend, and it has commenced at 69 degrees under invitingly clear skies.


Have a Sensational Saturday, Everyone!

Thank you Crown!! That IS close!! Enjoy your weekend!

 

[snowflake22]

 

[snowflake22]

 

[made582]

I hope everyone is having a great day!!!!

 

[snowflake22]

I hope everyone is having a great day!!!!

Hope you are too, buddy! Continued prayers!

Xx

 

[MerryCarey]

Thank you Meceka!
I hope you have a merry weekend too!

I have a few stuffed mushroom recipes that I make, I just love them.
These are two of my favorites ~

Classic Stuffed Mushrooms
Ingredients

• 18-24 button or cremini mushrooms, scrubbed clean, stems separated from the caps
• 1 Tbsp butter
• 2 small shallots, minced, about 2 Tbsp
• 1 large garlic clove, minced
• 2 Tbsp chopped walnuts
• Salt
• 2 Tbsp chopped parsley
• 1 teaspoon herbes de Provence or dried thyme
• 2 Tbsp breadcrumbs
• 2 Tbsp sherry or chicken stock
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 2 Tbsp grated parmesan cheese

Method
1 Preheat oven to 375°F.

2 Finely chop the mushroom stems. Heat 1 tablespoon butter in a small frying pan over medium-high heat. Sauté the chopped mushroom stems and the shallots for 4-5 minutes, stirring often. Add the garlic and walnuts and sprinkle with salt. Stir well and sauté 2 more minutes. Turn off the heat and add the parsley, herbes de Provence and breadcrumbs. Pour the sherry into a food processor, then the rest of the stuffing. Pulse several times to get a fine mixture, almost a paste.

3 Toss the mushroom caps with olive oil. Fill each mushroom with the stuffing. Sprinkle grated parmesan cheese over each mushroom and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese browns a little. Allow to cool for 5 minutes or so before serving.


Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms
Ingredients

• 24 ounces, weight White Button Mushrooms
• 1/3 pound Hot Pork Sausage
• 1/2 whole Medium Onion, Finely Diced
• 4 cloves Garlic, Finely Minced
• 1/3 cup Dry White Wine
• 8 ounces, weight Cream Cheese
• 1 whole Egg Yolk
• 3/4 cups Parmesan Cheese, Grated
• Salt And Pepper, to taste

Preparation Instructions
Wipe off or wash mushrooms in cold water. Pop out stems, reserving both parts.
Chop mushroom stems finely and set aside.
Brown and crumble sausage. Set aside on a plate to cool.
Add onions and garlic to the same skillet; cook for 2 minutes over medium low heat.
Pour in wine to deglaze pan, allow liquid to evaporate.
Add in chopped mushroom stems, stir to cook for 2 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Set mixture aside on a plate to cool.
In a bowl, combine cream cheese and egg yolk. Stir together with Parmesan cheese.
Add cooled sausage and cooled mushroom stems. Stir mixture together and refrigerate for a short time to firm up.
Smear mixture into the cavity of each mushroom, creating a sizable mound over the top.
Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden brown.
Allow to cool at least ten minutes before serving; the stuffed mushrooms taste better when not piping hot.

Those sound so good!
You may want to post those in the recipe forum too, for members who don't frequent the Countdown thread. (Yes, I'm the pest who always suggests that!)

 

[snowflake22]

Good afternoon, MMC!
Hope you're enjoying your Saturday!
Adi & I are off to drop my car off to be diagnosed, wish us luck.
Then, we are going to grab some lunch and go grocery shopping.
Ken will be staying in the hospital through the weekend, nothing new to report except they're changing some of his meds again and want to monitor him closely. Thank you for the prayers and messages. I am grateful for my Christmas friends!
Have a blessed day~

 

[MerryCarey]

We went to the Arboretum the other day and they were stringing Christmas lights around the trees preparing for their Christmas festivities that start in November! I was so excited!!!

That is exciting news! I bet that place is gorgeous at Christmastime with all the lights on.

 

[MerryCarey]

O'Malley somehow managed to place the litter scoop into his litter pan.
I realized he had knocked one of his droppings out and guessing he was trying to clean up his mess, but didn't know how to do it. Sometimes I think he's a special needs cat and then he does something extraordinary and I think he's a genius. If only he could figure out how to sift his messes and toss them into a garbage bag - that would be great! He does this about once a week, but usually he doesn't get the scoop out, instead he runs into the bathroom as if he wants to grab some toilet paper. He'll run in and out of there three times and then meow to tell us he made a mess. Think he has some OCD issues. HaHa.

Heading out to do some shopping shortly; feel like making some homemade soup and buying new clothes. I need some pants with deep pockets to hide my cell phone. I also want to pick up an adorable Fall coloured Owl outfit for a baby that I made myself pseudo Auntie to because her mother was not thought to be able to conceive and they gave up trying a few years ago and then "POOF" like magic they were expecting. She's 8 months old now, healthy, somewhat independent and her mom collects owls. My friend is going back to work on Monday and her daughter is starting child care so I wanted to give them a little surprise.

O'Malley is such an amazing fellow. And you're amazing, too, with your kindly thoughts and gifts.