12:21 p.m. - 2007-11-29
Plans so far
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Here's a cute story to tell your children or grandchildren...
Prinderella and the Cince
Twonce upon a wine there was a gritty little perl named Prinderella, who lived with her micked wepstother and her two sisty uglers. Now the micked wepstother and her two sisty uglers made poor Prinderella wean the clindows, flub the scorrs and do all the wirty dirk. Now there was going to be this drancy fess ball and Prinderella couldn't go because all she had to wear was her wirty dag. So she crat down and scried. All of a sudden her merry fodmother appeared and changed her wirty dag into a drancy fwess and her crumpkin into a parraige and said, "Off you go to the drancy fess ball to prance all night with the Cince, but you must be home by the moke of stridnight."
So off Prinderella went to the drancy fess ball where she pranced all night with the Cince. Now while Prinderella was joyously prancing with the cince, she heard the clock struke and at the moke of stridnight, she stashed down the stalace pairclase and what do you think happened? Well, I'll tell you.
On the stottom bep she stopped her dripper. Wasn't that a shirty dame? The Cince missed his painty dartner at the dance and looked ligh and ho for her but couldn't find her anywhere.
So the Ping issued a croclamation that all of the gelligible erls in the pingdom should try on Prinderella's dainty slass glipper. But their fig beet just fidn't dit. But Prinderella's finy toot fid dit so they married and lived lappily after everwards.
*****
There has been some progress and plans made in the long list of things I have to get done in the next 30 days.
I have found some birthday gifts for our step-grand daughter and they are ready for her birthday. My husband sent out an e-mail asking which family members would be interested in having a Christmas Eve get together at our home. Guess who called?
Yes, the brother-in-law who has basically ignored the rest of the family for nearly a year!
This means that we will be having a gathering at our home. We have decided to change it from a full blown dinner with way too much food to just snacks and dessert about 7 PM at our house. This way, people can come and go as they wish, I am not worried about the food all staying hot and getting done on time and it will be easier all the way around. Everyone always brings a dish or two anyway so, hopefully, this will be a nice change. I can make some of the food dishes ahead of time too so I can be more relaxed when the family arrives.
I wrapped some Christmas gifts today too. Now I have a better idea of what I have. Guess who I need to get a gift for.....yes...the same brother-in-law and wife who have been avoiding the family for a year! I am not going to search for the perfect gifts for these two as I have done in the past. It never seemed to be appreciated for the thought I put in - so this year will be a calendar or some dishtowels...something basic. I have gifts for their grown children left from last year when none of them showed up so that is covered. I don't mean to sound unhappy that they are coming but...in a way...I guess I am still upset with them. Hopefully, having them come to this family gathering this year will break the ice and it won't be an awkward situation.
Because we are having snacks and desserts, I started thinking of what I could fix that goes a long way, is simple to prepare and is appealing to most of us.
Here are a few great recipes...
SNACK CRACKERS
12 - 16 OZ. OYSTER CRACKERS
1 PKG. DRY HIDDEN VALLEY RANCH DRESSING
1/4 TSP. LEMON PEPPER
1/2 TO 1 TSP. DILL WEED
1/4 TSP. GARLIC POWDER
3/4 TO 1 CUP SALAD OIL
Combine Hidden Valley dressing and oil. Mix remaining ingredients and pour over crackers to coat. Place on cookie sheet and bake in 300 degree oven for 15 minutes. Store in dry sealed container.
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PUPPY CHOW
Melt together 1 stick butter, 12 oz. chocolate bits, 1/2 cup peanut butter. Thoroughly mix in 12 oz. box of Chex Cereal. Put in large plastic bag with 1 box of powdered sugar and shake until well coated. Store in dry sealed container.
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PARTY RYE BREAD
1 LB. HAMBURGER
1 LB SAUSAGE
1 LB. VELVEETA CHEESE
1 ONION
1 TSP. GARLIC SALT
1 TSP OREGANO
1-2 LOAVES PARTY RYE BREAD
Brown hamburger, sausage and onion. DRAIN WELL! Cut Velveeta into chunks. Add garlic, salt and oregano to meat mixture and stir until mixed well. Add Velveeta chunks and stir until melted into mixture. Spread onto party rye and place on cookie sheet and bake in 350 degree oven for 10-15 minutes. You can prepare these ahead of time, freeze them and then put in the oven.
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SPINACH DIP WITH RYE BREAD
1 PKG. KNORR VEGGIE SOUP MIX
1 CUP MAYONNAISE
1 CUP SOUR CREAM
1 CAN WATER CHESTNUT, CUT IN SMALL PIECES AND DRAINED
1/2 CUP CHOPPED GREEN ONION
1 PKG. FROZEN CHOPPED SPINACH
and ONE ROUNDED RYE BREAD
Rinse and squeeze spinach until all the water is out of it. Mix well with all other ingredients. Refrigerate at least 6 hours. Cut the center out of a rye bread and cut center into small pieces to dip.
*****
MONKEY BREAD
1 (25-ounce) package Bridgford frozen Parkerhouse Style Rolls Dough (divided use)
1 (3.4-ounce) package butterscotch pudding (instant or regular)
� cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
� cup chopped nuts (divided use)
� cup butter, melted (divided use)
Preheat oven to 375 F. Butter or lightly grease a 12-cup Bundt pan. Arrange half the rolls in pan; it doesn't matter whether they're frozen or defrosted.
Mix dry pudding mix, sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle half the mixture over rolls. Sprinkle with half the nuts and drizzle with half the melted butter.
Repeat with second layer of remaining rolls, dry ingredients, nuts and butter.
Let rise in a warm place for 3 to 4 hours. Can be made ahead and refrigerated to rise and bake later. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Makes 10 to 12 servings.
Variation: You can make this more of a herb bread by substituting 1 medium onion, finely chopped, 2 tablespoons mustard; 1 teaspoon thyme and any other herb you desire in place of all the sweet ingredients above.
*****
Well, now I am exhausted and starving!
