Christmas Jam

I am one of those people who holds true to the notion that all things Christmas should be set aside until the day after Thanksgiving. That's quite a test when both kids are practicing Christmas music for their recitals and jamborees and I am being bombarded with irrisistable Christmas fabric from the quilt shop. Alas, I gave in this weekend and made a double batch of my Christmas Jam. So these photos are for you dear friends - I had to force myself to set up this little display, but what are friends for?

This stuff is so easy and we look forward to it each year. I try to make enough to last all year, but it never seems to last that long because I enjoy sharing it with my friends!

CHRISTMAS JAM

2- 20 oz packages of whole strawberries or 2 1/2 quarts fresh strawberries (I used fresh)

1 lb fresh or frozen cranberries

5 pounds sugar (this is A LOT of sugar! I use about 3 pounds per batch -we like it kind of tart, and yes, that's STILL a lot of sugar!)

2 pouches (3 oz each) of liquid pectin

*Grind strawberries and cranberries in a food processor; place in a large kettle. Add sugar, Bring to a full rolling boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat. Add pectin. Cool for 5 minutes; skim off foam. Pour hot into jars. Adjust caps and process for 15 minutes in a boiling water bath. Yield: about 7 pints.

I was short a few strawberries this time so I just dumped in some frozen blackberries and loved the end product! This morning I realized that 1/2 of the first jar has disappeared!

New Recipe Thursday - Extra Special Zucchini Bread

The fabric in the photo will soon become my next apron.

Brrrr....! It's cold! We had our first official freeze of the season last night and it made it all the harder to climb out of a cozy bed, draped with flannel quilts, when the mercury was hovering in the high 20s. Seems as if its always colder here than in town - funny how a little bit of distance can make such a difference.

I'm thankful we don't have any trips on our agenda today, even though the day promises to be a busy one. Yesterday we had a full day in town. DS came back after 8 - he had spent his evening volunteering at the Republican Headquarters. I love that he's getting involved.

I started out this morning by trying out a new recipe for DH's breakfast.

Let me back up and confess that I am a recipe hoarder. I am one of those people who collects cooking magazines and ends up with large piles of 'I've got to try this' or 'this sounds wonderful' selections. Then they sit. Why? I don't know, maybe they get yummier with age? In any case, DD gives me a hard time about my collection of untested recipes.

In my defense, I do have a photo album -a very old, falling apart, thick and held together with packing and duct tape, photo album - that is home to all of our favorites. Everyone has strict instructions to grab it if we should ever have to evacuate in an emergency. It is nicely organized and I'm quite proud of the family favorites it contains, seeing as I couldn't cook a lick 20 years ago.

So yesterday I ran across a new recipe that looked promising and this morning I actually made it! It never made into the pile and DH gave it a thumbs up. I'm not sure how anyone can consume grilled jalapenos for breakfast, but he loved it. I snagged this recipe from the Pioneer Woman who is a pretty darn good cook! I like her cooking site and understand that she is in the process of publishing a cookbook. So anyway, her Cowboy Breakfast Sandwich gets a thumbs up around here. She's already shared it on her site so I won't repeat it here, but I do have a new recipe to share for Zucchini Bread.

Now don't turn up your nose like the kids did! Both of our kids despise zucchini. They didn't used to so I think it's just something they made up. I think I'm going to rename this Harvest Bread or something - I'll bet they'll eat it then! I love it and this time of year, this versitile vegetable seems to be in abundance. I'm planning a big garden for next year and you can bet it will include zucchini. I know, from past gardening years, that it is wild and unruly and multiplies exponentially. This recipe only requires 2 cups of grated zucchini which is about 1 zucchini so you won't exactly use up your excess, but every little bit helps!

Extra Special Zucchini Bread

3 eggs

2 C sugar

1 C vegetable oil

8 oz cream cheese, softened

2 C flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp nutmeg

2 C chopped walnuts

2 C shredded zucchini

*Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 2 9x5", or 7 5x3", or 15 2x3" loaf pans.

*In a large bowl, beat the eggs, sugar, oil and vanilla until smooth. Beat in the cream cheese.

*In a separate bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinammon, salt, and nutmeg. On

low speed, gradually beat into the egg mixture.

*Fold in walnuts and zucchini. Evenly divide the batter between your pans. Bake the large pan for 60 minutes and the smaller ones for 30, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

DD just wandered into the kitchen and commented, "OK, I'll have to admit that it smells really good!" I imagine that DH will wander by sometime during the morning and devour them after he has slathered them with butter as well.

I'm trying another new recipe for dinner too - after I make some jam! It's doubtful I'll make much of a dent in my collection, but it's a start!

Warning: Politics Ahead!

It doesn't matter what position you hold, I don't think anyone will argue that this year is filled with intense passion on both sides of the fence and at this point in the race, I think everyone's just growing plain weary of politics. That being said, I am going to go out on a limb and break the rule about discussing politics. I've always been a rebel anyway. Grin! After all, we are a country built on freedoms and this is my blog and I simply want to put my thoughts down because I am excited! After all these years I am finally an American citizen and this is my first year to vote in a Presidential Election! I can't wait! My excitement finally bubbled over yesterday - Sarah Palin had scheduled a stop in town and we were NOT going to miss it! Even if it meant waking groggy children in a hotel room early yesterday morning, in Abeline, Tx, where we had attended my niece's beautiful wedding, the night before, in order to make the 5 hour trip back in time to attend the rally.

We had 30 minutes at home before heading to town where we stood for 4.5 hours in support of the McCain/Palin ticket. I was shocked by the huge crowd and long lines. The endless boothes selling buttons and hats and shirts and all manner of political paraphernalia looked like the entrance to a concert.

I'll admit, it was a LONG wait and it was HOT, but it was an amazing experience! I really got excited when a man with a guitar appeared and they announced Hank Williams Jr! Very cool. I enjoy his music a lot although I wasn't sure he was the best choice for representing conservative, moral values! Grin! But there I was, rocking out with everyone else and it suddenly occurred to me that I was acting just like a teenager! LOL!



I love that the kids were excited about attending this rally! This is DS's first time to vote too. They were all good at entertaining each other during the long wait.

When Sarah Palin arrived, I really got excited. I love her. No, she does not have the foreign policy experience that everyone keeps harping on, but neither does Obama and he's running for President! Everyone keeps taking about change. I think she's a breath of fresh air and combined with John MaCain's record, I think they make a good team! I like what they stand for and I had ball yesterday!

I wasn't very confident that I would be able to snap any decent pictures, but I am pleased with the ones I captured.

I hung around after the rally in hopes of getting the opportunity to just shake her hand and I ended up not only shaking her hand, but getting a hug from her, getting her autograph and visiting with her for just a few seconds. She said, thank you, ma'am and that it's people like me that they want to represent and that they really appreciate our support. After she chatted with a few others, she looked back over at me and looked at me directly and said, "Thank you!" Even though there were thousands of people clammoring for her attention, she focused on me for just a minute and that made a huge impression on me. This gal speaks my language and darn if I didn't want to invite her over for a cup of coffee, a piece of pie and a round of skeet! It would have had to be a huge pie in order to feed the multitude of secret service men that flanked her from all directions though.

I believe in the issues they support and here's a list of reasons why they'll get my vote on November 4th:

1. National Security
2. Military / Defense - no-one favors war, but the fact is, we are a free country because throughout the years, we have been willing to fight for that freedom and defend our nation.
3. Pro-Life
4. Tax Policy
5. Experience
6. Energy Policy
7. Less intrusion of federal government
8. Character
9. Integrity
10. Honor
11. Ethics
12. Will not simply redistribute income, but will create income via an increase in jobs and let families choose how to spend it, not government.

I'm not looking for a debate here. Just voicing my opinion and excitement about living in a country where we have a voice to do just that.

I know things have a been a mess, but I think its our own fault. The economy's a mess because we've become a country of excess. A country who has become accustomed to living above their means. A Country who thinks everything should be handed to us on a silver platter. We have drifted away, far away, from the principles this country was founded on - namely, and most importantly - we have wandered out and away from God. The men who founded this amazing nation were Godly men who knew what was most important. They relied on His guidance daily. It scares me greatly to think just how lost we have become.

The Republican ticket is running on a slogan of 'Country First'. That's a big improvement over the 'Me First' slant I'm getting from the opponent, but how about we get back to what it really should be, "God First".

A friend and I were discussing this and she said that God will never remove His hand from His people, but I do think he has removed his hand from this country. That pretty much sums it up. Lets pray that we find our way back and put our trust back in God. That's the only change that really matters.

Quick Winter Project

Something about the arrival of winter gives me the urge to sit behind my sewing machine. I've recently been bitten by the sewing bug again. I have a 20 year old Kenmore sewing machine that has seen better days, but it has served me well thus far. Funny thing is, growing up, I never had any desire to sew. I even petitioned the school administration to let me take Shop instead of Home Ec in high school - and they agreed! I was 26 when I suddenly asked for a sewing machine for my birthday. I think my mother almost fell over.

Recently, I've been working on that quilt for DD, made some potholders, made that apron, and yesterday I made this tied fleece blanket that is sure to see a lot of use this winter.

Don't know why the backing material looks turquoise in the photo - it's really green. Oh and I'm sending out an invitation to anyone who has the urge to help me rid this house of that awful paneling!

I stumbled upon this material a few years ago and just had to get it since it was the same as the material I used to make DDs curtains and quilt. The fabric store is a dangerous place to be. Just remember to print out a 40% off coupon before you enter Hobby Lobby!

This a fun, quick project that can be whipped out in a few hours. I tied this one while watching a couple episodes of the Andy Griffith Show. In fact, I think I'll curl up with it right now - Leave it to Beaver's on! I don't watch much TV, but Opie and Beaver are welcome around here anytime.