Christmas Countdown - 2019

[ballcoach]

Well. Here comes a hurricane. I went to the store and got essentials! Sixteen pounds of coffee. That should hold me till Saturday. Yabba!

Bing....that won't get you through tomorrow.

Stay safe, friend. Praying for all of you...

Thank you! The countdown is on for Disney - we leave the night of the 16th and I am off for 2 weeks!!!

DIIIIIISSSSSSSSNNNNNNNNEEEEEEEEEYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!

I'M SO EXCITED FOR YALL! I CAN'T WAIT FOR OUR NOVEMBER TRIP! I'M GONNA NEED ALL THE SECRETS AND TIPS....why was I shouting....I'm gonna need a full report on what to do and what not to do....are you reading anything ahead of time to help you learn about some of the secrets?

 

[AuntieMistletoeDear]

Nope. It was dead quiet.

How very boring and unyabba.

 

[AuntieMistletoeDear]

Here’s the recipe I used. It was good, I would make it again!

Chicken Parmesan Pasta Bake

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 3 large garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 1 28 ounce can tomato purée
• 2 medium chicken breasts (about 1 pound), cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
• salt and black pepper, to taste
• 1 pound dried pasta
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/3 cup finely shredded parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup panko breadrcumbs
• dried Italian herb seasoning blend

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 Lightly spray a 3 quart casserole dish with cooking spray.
2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic and sauté until softened. Add tomato purée and bring to a simmer. Add chicken and simmer for about 10 minutes or until sauce is thickened slightly and chicken is just cooked through. Stir in basil and season with salt and pepper.
3. Meanwhile, cook pasta in boiling water until not quite al-dente Reserve a cup or so of pasta water before draining the pasta.
4. Strain pasta and transfer to sauce. Add a few splashes of pasta water and stir until pasta is evenly coated with sauce.
5. Transfer half of the pasta to the prepared casserole dish, spreading into an even layer. Sprinkle with half of mozzarella and half of parmesan cheese. Top with remaining pasta, followed by the rest of the cheese. Sprinkle with breadcrumbs and Italian herb seasoning.
6. Bake for about 20 to 30 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Thanks for sharing; I rarely follow recipes, I usually just do a little of this and a little of that and some of the other until I come up with the finished product.

 

[AuntieMistletoeDear]

Hope it stays offshore far enough to have little imapct for y'all. We are praying for y'all. We were in Maggie Valley monday and had a late breakfast at Buttered Biscuit. It was great.

Merry nice to see you posting again - another sign that the bers are here.

 

[AuntieMistletoeDear]

Bing....that won't get you through tomorrow.

Stay safe, friend. Praying for all of you...



DIIIIIISSSSSSSSNNNNNNNNEEEEEEEEEYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!

I'M SO EXCITED FOR YALL! I CAN'T WAIT FOR OUR NOVEMBER TRIP! I'M GONNA NEED ALL THE SECRETS AND TIPS....why was I shouting....I'm gonna need a full report on what to do and what not to do....are you reading anything ahead of time to help you learn about some of the secrets?

As youngster, I went with my family to Disney World and Disney Land and I still have memories of both. There's even more to do now at Disney World than there was when I went there. Space Mountain wasn't even built back then.

 

[AuntieMistletoeDear]

Good Merry Day after Pines Morning

Enjoying a cup of half Original Roast coffee and half hot chocolate; it's that kind of crisp feeling in the air.

What a fun time at the Shispering Pines.

Decorations galore - Carl really outdid himself.

Straw and wheat bundles everywhere you turned
White, orange and gold pumpkins
Barrels and antique vases filled with autumn leaves, birch tree branches and huge cinnamon sticks
Primitive doors with autumn wreaths leading the way to the corn maze (wonder if @Crown 84 got lost or simply curled up and had a nap in the maze)
Cascading dried vines, twine and garland around the bar and screened patio with jack-o-lantern lights and much more

Who won the old barn door as a door prize? It wasn't my ticket.

O'Malley had fun helping Carl set out the polka dots on the dance floor so we could do the Autumn Polka - thank goodness I was able to tap into John Candy and Eugene Levy as the Smenges Brothers or I would have been tripping over my two left feet.





Crazy times are just beginning on Wednedays at the Pines during the bers.

How could you resist staying jolly after so much fun?

 

[Martine]

Good Thursday morning! I've been up since 4am, just couldn't fall back asleep, so got in my daily workout instead of waiting after work like I usually do. Had a long work day yesterday and it might be more of the same today. Just counting down the hours till it's done and I can enjoy a 4-day weekend. Hope everyone has a wonderful day ahead!

 

[Edge612]

Happy Back to Football MMC! I did my fantasy football draft last evening. I haven't done that in a while but they did that at work this year so I did it for fun. Kids back in school now football on t.v. 2 check marks as we head officially towards Autumn. Have a great Back to Football Day!

 

[SnowflakeMom]

Here’s the recipe I used. It was good, I would make it again!

Chicken Parmesan Pasta Bake

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 3 large garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 1 28 ounce can tomato purée
• 2 medium chicken breasts (about 1 pound), cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
• salt and black pepper, to taste
• 1 pound dried pasta
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/3 cup finely shredded parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup panko breadrcumbs
• dried Italian herb seasoning blend

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 Lightly spray a 3 quart casserole dish with cooking spray.
2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic and sauté until softened. Add tomato purée and bring to a simmer. Add chicken and simmer for about 10 minutes or until sauce is thickened slightly and chicken is just cooked through. Stir in basil and season with salt and pepper.
3. Meanwhile, cook pasta in boiling water until not quite al-dente Reserve a cup or so of pasta water before draining the pasta.
4. Strain pasta and transfer to sauce. Add a few splashes of pasta water and stir until pasta is evenly coated with sauce.
5. Transfer half of the pasta to the prepared casserole dish, spreading into an even layer. Sprinkle with half of mozzarella and half of parmesan cheese. Top with remaining pasta, followed by the rest of the cheese. Sprinkle with breadcrumbs and Italian herb seasoning.
6. Bake for about 20 to 30 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Thanks for sharing...this sounds really good!

 

[Crown 84]

Good Post-'Pines/Pre-Weekend Eve Morning, Guys.

So many pre-'s and post-'s around here, aren't there? But that's a lot of the fun, isn't it? When a nice something is passed, another nice something is just around the bend. It's never a long wait.

Days to the Season: 69
Days to Christmas Day: 111

The day after tomorrow, Folks -- SINGLE DIGITS to the 100-Day Christmas Day Window!
Then. A double-double digit count begins.
Wow!

All eyes are on the skies and all ears on the weather forecast as Hurricane Dorian relentlessly approaches us from the south with 115 mph winds. Looks like it will be razor thin for the coast and even if the center stays a bit off shore, it will still be very rough over there. We could get gusty winds here too despite being well inland. Keeping our fingers crossed.
It's ominously cloudy at this hour and we stand at 77 degrees here to begin this day of watching and waiting.

Have a Thrilling Thursday, Friends.
(I can only hope ours won't be TOO thrilling!)

 

[Crown 84]

BTW, if we loose power here as we often do, an emergency countdowner may be needed.
If I haven't posted by 10:00 or so tomorrow morning, it means the juice is gone!

 

[Edge612]

Good Post-'Pines/Pre-Weekend Eve Morning, Guys.

So many pre-'s and post-'s around here, aren't there? But that's a lot of the fun, isn't it? When a nice something is passed, another nice something is just around the bend. It's never a long wait.

Days to the Season: 69
Days to Christmas Day: 111

The day after tomorrow, Folks -- SINGLE DIGITS to the 100-Day Christmas Day Window!
Then. A double-double digit count begins.
Wow!

All eyes are on the skies and all ears on the weather forecast as Hurricane Dorian relentlessly approaches us from the south with 115 mph winds. Looks like it will be razor thin for the coast and even if the center stays a bit off shore, it will still be very rough over there. We could get gusty winds here too despite being well inland. Keeping our fingers crossed.
It's ominously cloudy at this hour and we stand at 77 degrees here to begin this day of watching and waiting.

Have a Thrilling Thursday, Friends.
(I can only hope ours won't be TOO thrilling!)

Thanks Crown! Happy Back to Football!

 

[SnowflakeMom]

Happy Friday Eve!! Typical work day for me and my husband is working late so I think we may do pizza for dinner. Yesterday I got a Spirit Halloween coupon in the mail just more signs we are headed into the most wonderful time of the year!
Hope you all have a great day!

 

[HomemakinGirl]

Friendly reminder—-also post this in the Recipes thread for those who don’t visit the Countdown!

Will do Merry, thanks for the reminder. I need to post there more often

 

[HomemakinGirl]

Thanks for sharing; I rarely follow recipes, I usually just do a little of this and a little of that and some of the other until I come up with the finished product.

Thats a great way to cook and it means you are very creative! I’ve been addicted to browsing recipes on Pinterest lately so I like to try a new one every once in awhile.

 

[HomemakinGirl]

Thanks for sharing...this sounds really good!

You’re welcome!

 

[HomemakinGirl]

Good morning MMC!
It’s going to be a nice day with highs near 75 degrees. I walked Rocky this morning and it was bit chilly, I could have used a light sweater. I also noticed more leaves on the ground. I’m going to pull my Fall decorations out this weekend, I’m behind schedule this year. Anyway, today will be a typical day of errands and chores. My two oldest are off from work so I’m sure I’ll have company most of the day! I hope everyone is well and has a wonderful day!
xx

 

[MerryCarey]

Will do Merry, thanks for the reminder. I need to post there more often

For sure! Folks will want your recipes!

 

[sugar142286]

That’s so exciting Sugar, it will be here before you know it!!!

Thanks! I can’t wait!

 

[sugar142286]

Just wanted to share that I just saw the first Christmas TV schedule....for Hallmark.

The signs are showing up more and more each day!

I saw it too and saw they’re doing 40 new movies this year. So exciting!