Sunday, November 26
Sorry I haven't posted in awhile. Creativity requires energy.
So, what's up w/ us? Well, Dan lost his job a week and a half ago, so he's been around a little more lately! He's looking for either a pharmacy technician job or a good seasonal job that he could do while looking for the pharmacy job, so if you have any leads, send them our way!
In the meantime, we're revving up for Christmas over here. I put our little mini-tree up and decorated it, and Ariel was very intrigued by the lights. So cute!
Speaking of Ariel, she is getting more and more violent lately! She announces that she's done nursing by grabbing me with her little fingernails and yanking. OUCH! Geez!
I'm reading this book called Home Comforts, and it says that you need to be able to make "pantry meals," consisting of ingredients that you always have on hand, in case of emergency. So, today, I experimented with my own version of Hamburger Helper. I browned some hamburger and added some minced garlic. After a minute, I added penne pasta, milk, water, Italian seasoning, and flour, and simmered it for 20 minutes. Then I added parmesan, salt, and pepper. It wasn't as good as most of my more labor-intensive meals, but it was definitely better than Hamburger Helper, if I do say so myself! I was also quite proud of myself for cooking w/o a recipe.
My mom made this really yummy Thanksgiving leftover casserole on Friday. It was just leftover turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, gravy, and some butter all baked in a 9x13. It was SOOO good, I ate it till I was stuffed, and Dad and the boys polished it all off that evening. The downside, though, is that Dad told her that he would be happy if she made it for an actual Thanksgiving get-together. While this dish IS delicious (better than eating each dish seperately, for sure!), it has ZERO presentation. It looks like a pile of slop. So I'm not so sure about this serve-it-to-company thing. I guess she can do what she wants, though. Meanwhile, I might just start a day-after-Thanksgiving casserole tradition in the Seven house. How delicious would THAT be after a day of heavy shopping??? Mmmm!
I made wassail on Thanksgiving at my mom's house. Wassail is spiced cider, in case anyone doesn't know. Apple cider, orange juice, a little lemon juice, allspice, cinnamon, and cloves. Simmered forever. MMMMMM! Of course, I made way more than we drank, so I took a bunch of it home in a jug, and now I can have spiced cider whenever I want! YUMMY! Now I just have to get some friends over to come visit with me over a cup of wassail. Any takers??
I LOVE the holidays!! Can you tell? It means yummy treats and pretty decorations and warm, fuzzy feelings. It's a time when I feel like my work as a mom and housewife is so much more meaningful, and that I can make a far bigger difference. I LOVE shopping for gifts - trying to come up with the most personal gift for each person and then spend some time hunting down the best price. Then I get to wrap it - my secret passion - with beautiful wired ribbons and miniature ornaments! It's a little harder when you have a baby who keeps trying to crinkle the wrapping paper and unroll the ribbon, but it's still fun! WOOHOO! Merry Christmas!!!!!
So, what's up w/ us? Well, Dan lost his job a week and a half ago, so he's been around a little more lately! He's looking for either a pharmacy technician job or a good seasonal job that he could do while looking for the pharmacy job, so if you have any leads, send them our way!
In the meantime, we're revving up for Christmas over here. I put our little mini-tree up and decorated it, and Ariel was very intrigued by the lights. So cute!
Speaking of Ariel, she is getting more and more violent lately! She announces that she's done nursing by grabbing me with her little fingernails and yanking. OUCH! Geez!
I'm reading this book called Home Comforts, and it says that you need to be able to make "pantry meals," consisting of ingredients that you always have on hand, in case of emergency. So, today, I experimented with my own version of Hamburger Helper. I browned some hamburger and added some minced garlic. After a minute, I added penne pasta, milk, water, Italian seasoning, and flour, and simmered it for 20 minutes. Then I added parmesan, salt, and pepper. It wasn't as good as most of my more labor-intensive meals, but it was definitely better than Hamburger Helper, if I do say so myself! I was also quite proud of myself for cooking w/o a recipe.
My mom made this really yummy Thanksgiving leftover casserole on Friday. It was just leftover turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, gravy, and some butter all baked in a 9x13. It was SOOO good, I ate it till I was stuffed, and Dad and the boys polished it all off that evening. The downside, though, is that Dad told her that he would be happy if she made it for an actual Thanksgiving get-together. While this dish IS delicious (better than eating each dish seperately, for sure!), it has ZERO presentation. It looks like a pile of slop. So I'm not so sure about this serve-it-to-company thing. I guess she can do what she wants, though. Meanwhile, I might just start a day-after-Thanksgiving casserole tradition in the Seven house. How delicious would THAT be after a day of heavy shopping??? Mmmm!
I made wassail on Thanksgiving at my mom's house. Wassail is spiced cider, in case anyone doesn't know. Apple cider, orange juice, a little lemon juice, allspice, cinnamon, and cloves. Simmered forever. MMMMMM! Of course, I made way more than we drank, so I took a bunch of it home in a jug, and now I can have spiced cider whenever I want! YUMMY! Now I just have to get some friends over to come visit with me over a cup of wassail. Any takers??
I LOVE the holidays!! Can you tell? It means yummy treats and pretty decorations and warm, fuzzy feelings. It's a time when I feel like my work as a mom and housewife is so much more meaningful, and that I can make a far bigger difference. I LOVE shopping for gifts - trying to come up with the most personal gift for each person and then spend some time hunting down the best price. Then I get to wrap it - my secret passion - with beautiful wired ribbons and miniature ornaments! It's a little harder when you have a baby who keeps trying to crinkle the wrapping paper and unroll the ribbon, but it's still fun! WOOHOO! Merry Christmas!!!!!
// posted by Jenni @ 7:53 PM 
