After Christmas

                                           

Hi everyone. I hope your Christmas was warm and loving and fun---different maybe, but good?   I always reserve Christmas Eve for my children--our little family, so the celebration was almost as usual. Maybe less hectic and exciting, as they get older, but still fun, I hope.

You may recall I do a casual spread of charcuterie and other snacks, to be enjoyed as we share our gifts.

                                            

I made not very good store prepped Mrs Fields cookies and a make do cake. The cake is really good! Pillsbury Gingerbread Cake mix; add cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla and chocolate chips. Frosting is confectioners sugar and Grand Marnier [orange] liqueur. Marzipan fruits for pretty.

                                           

Skiing [ in a ''Covid safe'' resort with adult ski friends] is also a tradition, off the kids go usually on Christmas Day early morning. They have been doing this for many years, began skiing at age three-ish. I am left home alone with dear faithful Mo. My Christmas week project this year is to sew the binding on Shirley's Vintage Sampler, plus maybe another couple fun things, though time is slipping by, as Mo and I enjoy the sunshine and very cold clear air most days.

                               

We had a big storm on Christmas Eve into Day/ afternoon so they left yesterday instead. Mo is wondering if this surfboard was washed up in the big waves, blown ashore by the 70 mph winds. The board is bigger than it looks, odd angle---a classic winter longboard.

Lucky for us it wasn't cold and most of last week's snow has melted. White Christmas? Does this count?

And clearing by sunset, quite beautiful.

I made my Quick Chili since no big meal was planned or wanted. Recipe at the end. It isn't as nuanced a flavor as my regular chili but pretty darn good and very fast.

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This small white bisque house has been a favorite decoration this year. I've had it maybe three years, but this year I taped a flameless candle into its back opening and set the candle for its revolving colored light program. It's so cute and home-y and represents so well this at-home year which we have survived so far.

And a [hopefully] fun, creative gift I sent to a close friend and sent to myself too. TQC's 12 months of tiny quilts card pack. My idea is that we will each choose and make one of these quilts and swap the results for next year's gift exchange, How fun is that. I know which one I am making! My friend is also a great fan of TQC and she seemed intrigued and liking the plan. We have a whole year, so no pressure, just fun.

Nothing happening in amaryllis land. Is there a hint of green?

Is this a yummy thing to eat, mommy? 

Last, QuiltGranma asked about my hand carved wooden angels. 

They are by Cape Cod artist Mary Beth Baxter and were gifts from my mother, who had planned to give me an angel each year. Sadly my mom passed away after only giving me two angels, both very loved and cherished by me. The angels are handcarved, wood,  not resin copies; one of a kind. Baxter lived and worked in a wonderful almost perfectly preserved 1600s house and herb garden near my parents' home on Cape Cod.

Blog friend Sue found an old post with many angel pics, most made and sold by me---you may enjoy a look, back in my blog's earliest years. HERE

Historic house, Hopkins House post: HERE

May angels watch over us all, and keep us safe in these darkest days of winter and the coming year.

***Angel below has always been a favorite of mine: her head is a beachcombed wooden Nutcracker head! Her dress a late Victorian child's dress, her halo is vintage tinsel. She wears tiny old high top leather doll shoes with scuffed soles...once she walked and played among us, maybe? [sold]

love

lizzy 

gone to the beach....

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Quick Chili for Chilly Nights

 

Brown 1 1/2 Lbs ground beef [turkey/ chicken/ pork as desired] 

with 

1 minced onion and 1 T minced garlic

when browned, drain.

Add 1 can of fire roasted chopped tomatoes. The medium sized can, 12 oz? I like the roasted garlic tomatoes, but use what you have.

And ADD 2/3 Can of water.

Plus one large bag of frozen corn.

*if you like beans, pinto or kidney, add a smallish can, drained.

Add seasonings to taste, NOT too spicy. I like the kit, shown above but I only use half the chili powder and 1/3 of the red cayenne pepper/ 1/3 of the oregano cumin etc mix. I add my own cinnamon, coriander, and cilantro. Season to taste.

Bring to gentle simmer, stir well a few times. Cover loosely and leave on stove on lowest heat choice. It should barely simmer, no bubbling; mostly just heat through.

Serve in a big bowl lined with shredded lettuce, pile the center with steamed white rice [or brown]. Add shredded cheddar or colby jack cheese, sour cream. 

Ok to sub or add  what you have in the fridge.

Delish! Delish! Try it!