"The Dishes" and "The food"....

I think you may have figured out, if you follow my blog that when I say I'm going to write "tomorrow" that might not be true.  I really do intend on sitting down and writing, because, truth be told, I find it very relaxing, and I love to snap pictures of things around this house and property.  But, alas, sometimes it's just not possible.  I have discovered that ladies do NOT stop shopping for themselves at the holidays, LOL!  We have been buuusssssyyy filling orders, and I don't think they're gifts.  You just keep those orders coming ladies, we are happy to keep you busy on your end.  

I have actually not been creative for a few weeks, with new designs I should say.  I find that if I don't design something new for awhile it becomes very jumbled in my head.  I have to sit with my ipad tonight and sketch or ideas that are in several compartments in my brain will just disappear and sometimes never come back!  But should I sit and sketch or should I hook the Notforgotten Farm Christmas rug that I've been wanting to start, or should I punch the gazillion punch needle designs that I'm behind on, or should I sculpt some necklaces, or should I sketch some new doodle designs or notecards?  Do you see why it can get scary in my brain sometimes??

So, what will really happen is I will sit in my chair with a glass of wine, check out everyone's lives on facebook, maybe get a bit of inspiration on pinterest, then I might play a game of two dots, followed by my few lives on Candy Crush, then if I'm really lucky I might get some hooking or punching in before the couch starts beckoning me to "come on over".

Wow, I really ramble lately don't I?  Last time I wrote about my favorite things at Christmas and I was going through my pictures and realized I had never shared "the dishes".  Everyone has "the dishes", Grandma's favorite pickle dish, or in my case, several little cut crystal dishes or this beauty below.....

Then there is the beautiful set that my husband's step Grandmother gave us when we got married.  "T" for Thomas dishes come out for every holiday meal...

..and "S" for Smith....my Grandmother's maiden name on the silver.  You can't help but smile with fond childhood memories when you pull out "the dishes", and you just HAVE to use them, otherwise it wouldn't be the holidays...

Then there is the food.  As you may have read in one of the comments on my last post, Kathy told me about her Tamales, they had to have the Tamales every year.  I never realized the difference from state to state until recently really.  I have a young girl who helps me out with and she's from New Mexico and I love to hear what foods her family has during the holidays.  I told her that for us, any holiday meal would not be complete without Mom's famous deviled eggs..

and you had to have the "stuffing".  We make it by chopping up the gizzards from the turkey and sauteeing them with onions, carrots, garlic, celery, 1 whole apple, some sage sausage, then pour in the water that you cooked the gizzards in with some poultry seasoning and then pepperidge farm bread cubes.  It's a must!!  My Grandfather LOVED stuffing, but, you could have a 35 lb. turkey and he would always wait till everyone else had been served.  He would always say, "I'll wait and see if there is enough." 

I still make the old recipes, but try to throw in a few fun ones here and there.  The other night when my son Jeremy came home from college I made his favorite Captain Crunch chicken.  I think it's a planet hollywood recipe.  You crush 2 1/2 cups of captain crunch cereal with 1 1/2 cups cornflakes (I used chex mix instead because we didn't have cornflakes), add some salt, pepper and garlic powder and mix.  In another bowl make an egg wash with egg and milk.  Dip the chicken in the egg and then roll around in the cereal mixture and fry.  I know it sounds questionable, but this chicken is delicious!!  We dip it in bbq sauce or honey mustard.

...and I've discovered barks recently.  There is one that is made with sugar cookie dough that I really love, but the other night I made this one.  Crush Oreos and pretzels and put them on a sprayed piece of wax paper on a jelly roll pan.  Sprinkle with green and red M&M's then melt almond bark or your favorite white chocolate and drizzle on top.  Sprinkle with festive sprinkles, allow to harden and then break up.  This one is really sweet so only a little piece is needed, of course by the end of the day you've had 10 little pieces, but oh well, it's the holidays...

So, what are you favorite holiday foods (besides Tamales Kathy, lol)?  Or tell me about "the dishes"....I'd love to hear.
I'll be back tomorrow, really, I will try, I have more pictures...

Until next time.......