Christmas Morning 2009

Every Christmas morning we have this breakfast casserole. I make it the night before and refrige it until the morning. I cook it while we are unwrapping our Christmas presents. Timing of cooking and unwrapping presents seems to always works out perfectly. After breakfast we finish with stocking gifts! This keeps me out of the kitchen and with family to enjoy every minute of Christmas morning!

This is great for any occassion when you have guests. It is one of the best breakfast casseroles I have tasted!

Sausage/Egg Casserole
6 slices of bread, trimmed
1 lb. sausage
8 oz. shredded cheddar
6 eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
Diced onion and green pepper
Salt and pepper
1 tsp, mustard ( I do not use)

Line 9 x 13 greased casserole with bread slices. Brown sausage and veggies. Spread in layer
over bread. Top with cheese.

Beat eggs, milk, mustard, salt, and pepper together. Pour into casserole. Cover with foil and refrigerate.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until set. When ready to eat uncover for 5 more minutes and sprinkle with a little cheese.

Enjoy!
From SSS
Sharon

Merry Christmas

Gingerbread House Making

Gingerbread Houses 2009... Our Christmas tradition and memories continue...

The older the more creative they get!

I have used this recipe since 1993. It was from the McCall's magazine which is not in print anymore. Hope you can start your own tradition with your children or grandchildren. As you can see even my college girls love to make the houses. Every year they get more elaborate! I think it is even more fun today. Our home was filled with laughter and chattering of friends getting caught up after another year in college. What a wonderful afternoon and a memories we will take with us!
Recipe:

7 to 8 cups unsifted all-purpose flour
2 Tbsp + 2 tsp ground ginger
1 Tbsp + 2 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tsp each ground cloves and nutmeg
1 1/2 tsp each baking soda and salt
2 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 unsalted butter, softed
1 1/2 cups molasses
1/2 cup water
1 tsp ground cardamom ( I have never used this)
1. In a large bowl mix 4 cups flour, the spices, baking soda and salt. In a large bowl of electric mixer, beat sugar and butter until light. Beat in molasses and the water. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Beat in remaining flour, 1 cup at a time, until soft dough forms. Shape into several 1/2 in thick disks. Wrap in plastic wrap; chill at least 3 hours or overnight.

Pre heat oven to 350. Roll out dough to 1/4 inch. Using patterns and knife, cut out shape. Bake 15 minutes or until firm to touch. Remove gingerbread to large cooling rack. make sure pieces lie flat. Makes 4 to 6 houses.

Tips:

1. Roll dough on parchment paper and cut out the house piece on it. Cut the paper and place on the cookie sheet.

2. I use the Wilton MeringuePowder for the royal icing. Quick and dries very hard. Put it in ziplock bags and snip a hole in corner. Each person has their own for decorating the house.

3. Use a heavy duty mixer. My Kitchen Aid mixer even struggles making this dough.

4. Cut out a window in side. crush butterscotch and fill window hole to make a stain glass window.

Castaway ... Treasure

I have been looking for several years for a chest for our master bedroom. Unexpectably one afternoon on a trip to Office Depot my husband suggeted we go in and browse at one of the consignment shops next to the Office Depot. Funny when you least expect it....there it is! As you can see I love traditional furntiure. Although it is not exactly the same as my bed and dresser, it is definitely close enough. Guess someone was ready to get rid of the old tradtional furniture. Just my luck I love this chest and and now it has a new home! This is one of my best finds. Do you ever wonder about where your finds came from and why?

More sunshine from SSS,

Sharon

Tracking Ida!

Ida is heading to the Panhandle. She has already brought lots of rain, wind (50 mph), and a day off from work. Hopefully that is all she will be known for. Not like Ivan which caused major devastation in 2004. She has been downgraded to a tropical storm. So Ida should not be much of a threat.

Made Especially for You...

Now my homemade jelly is ready for gift giving....simple label made on the computer.

Enjoy! .... this beautiful day!

Sharon

Happy Pinkoween!

Skull and Cross Bones (Chi O symbol) treats for the college girls: The decorated Dollar Tree cups filled with candy and adorned with ribbon on the handles are little Halloween treats this year for my college girl and her sorority sisters. This was a fun and easy project. Just print out the names in selected font, tape on inside of cup, and trace. Since the cup is see through it was easy to trace the names with permanent marker.

A LITTLE EXTRA TREAT FOR MY COLLEGE GIRL

She loves Lilly so I thought I would create her a Lilly themed Trick or Treat basket. Treats of "Lilly Wink" perfume and pink/ green candy. The big "Happy Lillyoween" is a giant Hersey bar. The cauldron colors were also pink, green and yellow. I painted the candy corn on the side in Lilly colors, instead of yellow, orange and white.
Hope you y'all have a fun- filled Halloween!

Sunshine from SSS,

Sharon

Grape Picking & Homemade Jelly.....Gift Giving!!!!

Making homemade jelly is very satisfying! It is some work I must say, but well worth it! First, we went grape picking with some of our friends which always makes work (picking) more fun! Of course, I wondered all over the orchard tasting grapes trying to find the sweetest ones. I think I ate more than I picked! The grapes are actually what I call scuppenongs. They taste very different from store bought grapes. As you can see they come in a deep purple and bronze and grow on vines just like grapes. This orchard is owned by an 80 something year old gentleman who still maintains the grapes. While we were there picking he was there pruning the vines and picking grapes . Quite a feat considering he is blind and uses a walker! His lovely wife was with him and it was amazing to see Mrs. B, also 80 something, moving easily under the vines from row to row. We were beginning to think there maybe a fountain of youth in this orchard! Mr. B loves trains and that is a real caboose on the property! This is the second year we have had the pleasure to be asked to pick the grapes. I hope this will be an annual event for us....especially now I am getting more canning supplies.

Jelly making is really not that hard with the right supplies...just time consuming! I used the "Sure Jell" Pectin recipe. So far the jelly has turned out perfectly! I would suggest that you get a few gadgets for canning. It really makes it a lot easier! I bought the jelly strainer bag kit. Last year I used cheesecloth and it was harder to work with.

I ended up with 40 jars of sweet homemade jelly!!! Of course, most of the jelly will go for gifts like last year. Guess the most fun about making the jelly is eating it and giving it away!! My sweet college girl and sweet older daughter have already asked for me to send them a care package.

Now all I need is a pretty label!

Sunshine from SSS,

Sharon

My kind of tree! Bottle tree!

Just visited my wonderful sisters and brothers in Alabama! It is always so nice to get to see my family! This bottle tree is in my sister's yard. Isn't it so fun!

Happy 4th! : Celebrate America Project

The front door wreath got a red, white, and blue make over just in time for the 4th! Easy project done with WM flowers and ribbon. The wreath vine I got from the yard years ago. So this project cost me very little. I don't glue the flowers into the wreath because I can change it for other occasions. Just cut the flowers stems short with wire cutters. Push the flower stems in between the branches of the vine. Make a bow. I will give you steps to how to make a bow on another post. ..if you would like. Done and hang!

Hope you have a Happy 4th!

Sunshine from SSS,

Sharon

Pepperoni Roll

Foodie Fridays @ Designs by Gollum, http://designsbygollum.blogspot.com// This blog site has it all...food, decorating, & beautiful tablescapes !!!

This dish can be used as a quick meal or appetizer. I really don't know the official name of it, but it is easy to make and tastes great. Plus most of us keep these ingredients on hand.

1 Frozen bread loaf defrosted (soft enough to roll it out)

1 Package of Pepperonis

Shredded Mozzarella cheese

1/4 cup melted butter

Garlic salt to taste ( add in butter)

Defrost bread. Roll out on floured surface into rectangle shape. Then put pepperonis down the center in two rows. Sprinkle cheese on top of pepperonis. Fold over the sides and seal ends of roll. Place seam down and bake at 350 degrees until top is golden. As soon as it comes out of the oven brush with melted garlic butter.

Have great sunny weekend!

Sunshine from SSS,

Sharon

Sweet Wedding Gift Idea

Love is in the air! It is that time of the year for weddings! We have been invited to 5 weddings in the last two months. We found this cookbook at Tuesday Mornings. It's the perfect wedding gift---the Better Homes and Gardens, New Cook Book, Bridal Edition. It has all the information of the original trusted, red checkered Better Homes and Gardens. You all probably have one too... I do. This new edition has added a section for romantic dinners, a guide to wine, cheese, & cocktails, and hosting your first holiday dinner. Maybe I should buy one for myself!

Also, I monogrammed a store bought apron with the Bride's name and trimmed it with some light green polka dot grosgrain ribbon. The final touch was a note wishing the couple a home filled with love ...and lots of home-cooked meals!

Sunshine from SSS,

Sharon

Sweet and Southern: Gift Giving Idea

I mentioned this wine bottle cheese/ appetizer serving dish in my last blog. I gave these as gifts to all my bunko friends for Christmas. I made the gift tag for each one with a real wine cork. My husband drilled a whole through the center of the cork and I attached it to the gift by threading the raffia through the cork and tying a knot in the end.

These were real wine bottles (from our bunko dinners... a lot of dinners!) which were "slumped" in my sister's kiln. The very high temperatures literally causes the bottles to collapse flat. It takes all day in the kiln for this process. I put the clear protector buttons on the bottom of the dish and added the decorative (of course, sea horses and sea turtles) spreader to the dish.

One of my bunko friend's son recently got married and we saved the champagne bottle from the wedding toast for the newly weds.

Sunshine from SSS,

Sharon

Salty and Sweeeeet: The Gulf Coast Breezes & Thursday in the Park

"Thursdays in the Park" have become a fun filled, families, friends, and community time at the local park. As the cool Gulf breeze fills the air with the music of a local band, children wade in the warm water and play on the swings near by. Friends chat and get caught up on the local news. As for my family we look forward to an evening of spenidng time together and enjoying some simple snacks. My family's favorites to enjoy are fruit, cheese, wine, and crackers.

The cheese ball above is one of my family's favorite! I really can't remember where I got this recipe, but I have made it for years. It is probably the eaaiest cheese ball ever!

Philadelphia Cream Cheese Ball

(World's Easiest Cheese Ball)

8ozs. cream cheese

1 package of ranch dressing

Chopped pecans to cover

Mix cream cheese with ranch dressing. Form into a ball and roll in chopped pecans. Chill

Serve with Wheat Thins or any cracker of your choice. I used Reduced Fat cream cheese and reduced fat Wheat Thins. My family did not notice a difference in taste using the reduced fat products.

( The blue serving dish the cheese ball is served on is a wine bottle my sister "slumped" in her kiln. These make great gifts. That is a blog for another day.)

Enjoy your summer and look for those times to celebrate summer evenings with your family. Something as simple as "Thursdays in the Park" creates a family memory that will last a life time.

Love from SSS,

Sharon

Truly Southern: First Taste of Summer & School is OUT!!!

My first home grown tomato... and my first tomato sandwich! Probably to many people this may not sound very good. Believe me tomatoes from the grocery store do not make tomato sandwiches like a home grown tomato. In the south we can really grow the best tasting tomatoes! We even have Tomato Festivals!! Of course, this sandwich is only made with fresh bread, mayo, salt & pepper, and my first homegrown tomato. No BLT... just "T", tomatoes! You know even Queen Elizabeth is growning her own garden these days! Did I mention... if I don't get any more tomatoes from my very small garden, this tomato sandwich will have cost me about $75! But it was worth it! Nothing like your first summer tomato sandwich!

My summer officially starts today! We just finished another wonderful school year! Here we are at our End of the Year celebration program by throwing confetti all over the cafeteria and our traditional waving "Good bye" to our little ones as they leave for the summer!!!! I always wish (pray) for them to have a safe and happy summer as I see their happy faces leave us for the long summer days!

Opening Day!!!! Big Day!!

After two years and a very long stressful journey we are opening our Express Car Wash!!! Pray for us in this economy!

Beads, Moon Pies, Floats... Mardi Gras Parade on the Beach

My oldest Sweet Daughter, my Sweet Husband and I had such a wonderful time at the local Mardi Gras parade. As you can see it was a beautiful day to spend on the beach with friends and family!

My Sweet Daughter had to give a kiss for the flower!

My Sweetie modeling all her "throws"!!

Do you have one of these "Toastmaster " sandwich makers?

Hot Pocket Chocolate Pancakes

My family loves these! Just follow directions on any pancake mix. Spray the sandwich maker with cooking spray. Pour about 1/3 cup of pancake batter into the sandwich press. Then drop a few chocolate chips (or blueberries) on top of the batter. Close lid and cook about three minutes. Enjoy!!

King cake, parades, beads, moon pies...Mardi Gras

King Cakes are a huge part of Mardi Gras traditions throughout the South. The cake's origins date back to the Feast of the Epiphany or Twelfth Night, which honors the three kings present at the Christ child's birth. Today's tradition calls for the person who gets the "lucky" piece of cake with the baby doll inside to throw the next party or buy the next King Cake.

This weekend is the big Mardi Gras weekend with many parades in the area. I really need to do some research on why they throw beads at the parades... anyway it's lots of fun!
In the mean time we will just eat cake,,,King cake!

Valentine's and Birthday Dinner

Blogs are inspiring! I took the good china out of the china cabinet and set a beautiful table. I usually decorate for all the holidays, but I have been so inspired more by all the wonderful blog sites I have decovered. The Chicken Cordon Bleu recipe came from Melissa at A Little Loveliness. I have tried several of her recipes and loved them. Thanks for sharing your homes, recipes, and ideas with me.