Christmas Revisited:

Retro red Christmas stockings, my dad’s, my sister’s and mine. That’s a Santa puppet hand sewn by my mother!

This year, the living room at my mom’s house is barren of Christmas decorations. 😦

On a positive note, Today, I brought over to the Sacred Heart cemetary a Grave Blanket of evergreens and a Bid red festive Bow , for my father’s grave. There was still fall leaves in among the Vinca vines that are still alive from earlier in the year.

The American flag is missing from my Father’s War Marker.  I noted that other graves including my Grandfather’s ( for Uncle Ronnie had American flag at my grandparents grave marker.  My grandfather did not fight in any war, said my mother today!

She doesn’t have any family to help her except me.

I finally got my Christmas tree decorateddyesterday.

This is a glimpse of what is still downstairs in the basement.

Do you have your first Christmas stocking?  Do you collect Christmas stockings?Happy Ruby Tuesday everyone!

Super Oven Pancake

Super Oven Pancake, Use your Iron skillet for this tasty recipe.

1/4 cup Butter

2 eggs , slightly beaten

1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup milk

1/4 tsp cinnamon

Confectioners’ sugar or syrup

Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees F. 

Melt the butter in a 9 inch IRON skillet placed in the oven while the oven is preheating. 

In a bowl combine the eggs , flour milk and cinnamon.  Beat but not until smooth: Leave a little lumpy ( like traditional  pancake batter). Scrape into the hot skillet. 

Bake at 425 degrees F. for 15 to 20 minutes.

Sprinkle with Confectioners Sugar on top or syrup.

Makes 2 to 3 servings. 

From the “Ivy Hall Cookbook”

I’m absolutely liking many of the recipes  that I read in this cookbook.  With our thrifty ways, we found this cookbook at a book sale for 50 cents;  the cookbook is locally written, too.

Cookie recipes: Blondies and New England Chocolate chip cookies

Blondies:

The flavor of Butterscotch has been one of my favorites since I was a kid spending time after school with my Grandma P.

 Of course, for me, I’ll eat or sample anything  with brown sugar!!! 🙂 Nowadays , this has to be a once in a while indulgence or wait for a real “Blue Moon” or the belt has to go up a notch, Tehe!!

Blondies

2 cups packed brown sugar

2/3 cup margarine or butter

2 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate pieces

1 cup chopped nuts

Directions:

Heat sugar and margarine, stirring until sugar dissolves.  Cool SLightly.

Stir in eggs. one at a time , and vanilla. 

Stir in flour, baking powder and soda.

Spread in a greased 13 x 9 x 2 inch baking pan.  Sprinkle with chocolate and nuts.

Bake in a 350 degree F. oven  25 to 30 minutes until done.   Cut while warm. 

Makes 36

New England Chocolate Chip Cookies

12/12/12

A twelve ingredient recipe that serves 12.

Macaroni and Tomatoes

2 1/2 lb lean ground beef

2 TBSP  Vegetable oil

2 large onions, chopped

3 ribs celery, chopped

3 large carrots, grated

2 (2 -lb.-3-oz.) cans Italian style tomatoes, with juice

2 tsp salt

1 1/2 tsp oregano

1 tsp pepper

1 tsp garlic powder

1 1/2 lb. elbow macaroni, cooked and drained

2 (10-oz.) packages frozen chopped spinach, slightly thawed

Grated Parmesan cheese

In a large pot brown the beef on the oil for about 5 minutes.  Add the onions, celery, and carrots, and cook for an additional 5 minutes.  Stir in the tomatoes, salt, oregano, pepper, and garlic powder.

Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and cover.  Simmer for one hour.

When the sauce is done, stir in the macaroni and spinach; mix thoroughly.

Transfer to 2 13 x 9 x 2-inch casseroles.  Sprinkle with cheese.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes, or until bubbly.

12 to 14 servings.

From : The Ivy Hall Cookbook, Trinity CHurch, Princeton