Friday, November 30, 2012

End of November 2012

The closer we come to the holiday's the faster time seems to leave us behind. One of the young families in our branch invited us to Thanksgiving dinner. With four little one around, it was a lively and enjoyable afternoon. The food was very festive and delicious.

My brother and sister-in-law had planned to come up the Monday after Thanksgiving. Plans changes due his having just been hired at the hospital in Aurora as a part-time physical therapist assistant. He will be filling in for the physical therapist when she has days off and vacation. Needless to say he ended up working then.They do plan to come up but it won't be for a couple of weeks now.

Looking back over the past month, all I can say, it was busy. On the nineteenth, the Ya Ya Gang Relay for Life time, had our annual Holiday Happenings. This year, we decided we needed a larger place and held it in the back room of Skippy Finns, the old VFW in Badger. It was a great room and even with all that room we were crowded. Our hours were from five to eight pm.

This year we added a "Ya Ya Gang U-Pik Cookies" sale with cookies sold by the pound, this was very successful. All cookies were donated and we had a wonderful variety. There wasn't much left at the end of the night. Micky Slater, Gwen Gross, and I were in charge of the "Cookie by the Pound" and the "Broken Cookie Cafe."


There baskets galore for the Silent Auction!


We noticed the vendors were busy all evening.


As well as those working with the bake sale.
 
Our group is a winner, we raised over $4,000!
Everyone  made the same cookie and I baked eight dozen Pecan Tassies. Yesterday, I baked the same recipe again for next week's Christmas Tea for the doctors, their spoused, the staff and anyone who chooses to stop at the hospital for coffee an' to visit with the staff and doctors.

This is the recipe for the Pecan Tassies. I put a few photos at the end to give one an idea of how to prepare them.



PECAN TASSIES    
SHELLS:
1 (3 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
1/2 c. butter, softened
1 c. flour
Using a food processor or a mixer, blend the cream cheese and butter then add the flour. I like my cream cheese and butter to start out a little on the cool side. Chill the dough for about a 1/2 hour if you start with softened butter and cream cheese. Roll into balls about the size of a walnut in the shell, and press into miniature muffin tins. I have put photos after the recipe so one can see how they are pressed into the pan.

Chop 2/3 c. pecans  and place about 3/4 to a teaspoon of pecans in the shells.

Top with this FILLING:
Mix together:
1 egg, beaten
3/4 c. brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tbsp. butter, softened
Pinch of salt

 Spoon filling into shells to about 3/4 full and bake in a 325 degree oven for 25 minutes or until the shells are light brown. When done, let cool a bit in the pan, then carefully run a knife around the edge prior to removing the tassies. These freeze well. 

Makes 24 Pecan Tassies.


Press cream cheese base into miniature muffin pan.

Up close example!


Place the pecans in the bottom and then top with the brown sugar mixture and bake.




 Our adorable little grandson, Lance Bjorn, is walking up a storm now. So cute to see him walk like his cousins. He is such a peaceable little boy. Very seldom do I hear that he is crying about something. I haven't seen him on Skype lately but Ashley has been wonderful to put videos and photos on Facebook for us to see.

For the past month I have been suffering with trigger finger in my right hand pinky and ring finger. I had Dr. Schall, my orthopedic doctor about two weeks ago and he told me to try anti inflammatory medication and if that wasn't helping to call his office and he would see me and give me a cortisone shot. After continuing to suffer and having sleepless nights, I called last Friday,when they were closed. On Tuesday, his nurse, Shona called to tell me he would see me on Wednesday the Bone and Joint Clinic in Grand Forks. I had made appointments for Visiting Teaching with two sisters and ended up canceling one so I could get there in time. He gave me shots in both fingers. The ring finger gave me the most grief as it stayed numb and tingled until sometime early morning. Today was like a new day. I could quilt and do anything I had done before the problem. I am hoping it will last for several months. Thank you for seeing me Dr. Schall and for all you do to make my life so much better than it was physically almost five year ago.

Bedtime is calling. The electric mattress pad is on and my feet are cold so that bed is going to feel like heaven!




Sunday, November 11, 2012

Winter Weather Warnings

It has been misting out for the past three days so our roads are like ice skating rinks. Last year on the way to work, i stepped out of the house, slipped onto the first step and landed on the sidewalk! A couple of years ago, Ardmore fell on the icy walking to the mail box and couldn't get back up. A neighbor came by and helped him. He ended up in the emergency room and luckily didn't break any bones. He had a huge bruise on his left thigh to hip area which was very sore for a long time. I am praying that he does not fall when he walks into the church or has an driving accident.
I decided not to go to church. I do not want to fall and I know the parking lot is going to be treacherous. This is the type of weather I really dislike!
This past week I completed a couple of potholders for the Ya Ya Gang Holiday Happening sale. I want to do at least 5 more. I like to try different patterns. Here is a photo of three of them.




I am working on several different designs. Potholders give a person an opportunity to try a lot of different block patterns and decide which blocks they like best for a large quilt. Yesterday I received a call that Lance Bjorn's quilt is completed. I am so excited to see the finished product!
Yesterday theYa Ya Gang fried up about 250 flats of lefse. The Holiday Happenings sale will be at Skippy Finns' in Badger on November 19 from 5 pm to 8 pm. Lots of great things are available to purchase.
Decided to make pizza for Sunday dinner.
Pizza Dough
1/4 cup very warm water
1 teaspoon sugar
1 pkg yeast
2 cups bread flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning, I use Penzey's Spices
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, I use Penzey's Spices.
1/2 cup or more water as needed
Place first three ingredients in a small bowl for about 20 minutes.
Mix all dry ingredient together in a medium bowl, add the oil and water, mix together and then add the yeast mixture. Add more water if necessary but you don't want the dough too sticky.
Turn out and knead on your counter until smooth, about 5 minutes. I did not add flour, when he was a little too sticky to knead I placed it back in the bowl to which I had added a little more olive oil, turned, put suran wrap over it and place it in the oven. I set my oven at 120 when I start and turn it off in about 2 or 3 minutes.




Let the dough raise until double. Spray your pan and spread the dough out. Sprinkle grated Parmesan on top of crust.




Topping
1 can petite diced tomatoes with garlic and olive oil, add a good pinch of Italian seasoning and blend in food processor until almost smooth.




Top with cooked meat of your choice, vegetables, olives, red and green peppers, etc. top this with mozzarella or a combination of cheeses.




Bake about 14 to 18 minutes at 400 degrees F. Enjoy!








Today I am thankful someone was willing to teach my Sunday School lesson. Thank you Kelly!
Think of the best thing that happened to you today, meditate about it, and put it in your memory bank. Have a great day!
Charleen