Monday, November 26, 2012

My Christmas list.... to My Gardner Guy (update those things highlighted in red we did get done)

You may or may not like this list...but I do think it would be very fun!!! Christmas Magic as one would enjoy it through a child's eyes...

Holiday Window Wonderland, each year, The Downtown Alliance invites downtown businesses to decorate their store fronts and windows in an effort to create holiday magic and increase the spirit of the season for those who work, shop, and visit the downtown area. 

Participating Businesses:
•Deseret Book (45 West South Temple)
•Especially For You (209 East Broadway)
•Macy's (51 South Main)
•Mid City Salon (46 West Broadway)
•Salt Lake City Bicycle (177 East 200 South)
•Q Clothing (215 E Broadway)
•Oxford Shop (65 West 100 South)
•Starbucks (80 South Main)
•Ten Thousand Villages (120 South Main St.)

Take a ride on the Jingle Bus...All aboard the Downtown Jingle Bus! Beginning Friday, November 23 through December 28, holiday season visitors to downtown can hop-on and off the holiday themed ride circulating between The Gateway, Temple Square, Gallivan Plaza & City Creek Center.

Check out...
The Downtown Holiday Market at Gallivan brings holiday charm to Salt Lake's urban center with a focus on local and handmade goods. You'll find unique, one-of-a-kind items, perfect for children or that hard-to-shop for person on your list.
Where: The Terrace at Gallivan Center
When: Fridays & Saturdays, November 23 - December 22, 2012.
Hours: 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM


Temple lights....and City Creek
And at the Grand America... they have
A Gingerbread Display
Admire the intricately crafted gingerbread creation made by Executive Pastry Chef Jeffrey de Leon and his team displayed in the ballroom corridor throughout the holiday season.
•Dates: November 23 - January 1, 2013
•Charge: Complimentary



11th Annual Holiday Open House
December 1 & 2

This year marks the 11th Anniversary of the Holiday Open House at Red Butte Garden! The first Saturday & Sunday in December we fill the Orangerie with local artists who have created an array of locally handmade gifts for sale. We also offer free admission, complimentary cider and hot chocolate, and 15 acres of winter wonderland to explore. So bring your shopping list and your winter boots and come enjoy the season with us here at the Garden!

Lights at the Gateway....candy store
The Utah Governor's Mansion is decked out for the holidays, and free tours are available to the public throughout December. Tuesday and Thursdays in December, 2-4 p.m.

 This is a FREE event at Liberty Park
2012 Echoes Of Christmas Dates:
December 13 - 15 & 17 - 19, 2012

  • Presented Each Evening from 7:00 to 9:00 PM
  • Groups are formed every 5 minutes
  • Takes approximately 30 minutes to see all stations
  • Weather Permitting

Centerville Utah theater....White Christmas
Christmas Tree Festival....

 As far as a present under the tree... I could use shoes, perfume, weekend get away, massage anytime...gift card from Chico's...


A visit from the Grandcritters....
A visit from Santa
A Christmas Concert

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Squash fries...why not

Move on over white potato and sweet potato....there's a new kid on the block!!!



Ingredients

  • 1 butternut squash (large enough to yield 1 pound once peeled and sliced)
  • 1/8 teaspoon coarse salt, plus more, optional


Directions

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Peel squash with a vegetable peeler. Slice the ends off the squash, and then cut it in half width-wise. Cut the round bottom piece in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds.

Using a crinkle cutter or a knife, carefully cut squash into spears or French-fry shapes. Thoroughly blot moisture away with paper towels, and sprinkle evenly with salt.

Spray a broiler pan, a baking rack placed over a baking sheet, or a baking sheet with nonstick spray, and then place spears flat on it.

Bake in the oven 20 minutes, and then carefully flip spears. Continue to bake until tender on the inside and crispy on the outside, about 20 minutes longer.


Extra bonus...for a fun night of eating try a fry festival....do all three with a mixture of dipping sauces...it could be fun!!!

Try this yummy butter nut soup.....
Butternut Squash Bisque (Soup)....hummmm good!!!

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Thanksgiving and a reflection of past Thanksgiving days...

 
My memories of Thanksgiving go back to when I was a teenager I wish I could say when I was a child but I can't remember Halloween or Thanksgiving events prior to the pasting of my Mother. I have many memories of Easter, July 4th events, and Christmas...as well as birthdays, and family trips...why I cannot remember Halloween and Thanksgiving puzzles me. My memories start around sixteen...I think some years before her death and after her death we must have spent our Thanksgiving at other relatives...I had very little to do with the preparations of the big Turkey.

When my Father remarried for the fourth time...(we went through a few housekeepers, and a few step moms) this is when my memories start. Mildred would cook for days it seem, we had a Turkey and a Ham, black eye peas, corn bread, stuffing, sweet potatoes, potatoes and gravy, green beans and pies, pies and pies...every few years a few other fun dishes were tired.

This Turkey Day tradition was continued on into my marriage and as my children got older I started having more dinners in my home...I loved everything about planning and preparing the best feast. My Father and Mildred, along with many other family members were always invited, dinner for 20- 25 became a yearly thing.

Things have changed since my divorce in 2003, dinners were smaller. Then in 2006 I met Brent and the first meal  my children  and I were invited to was a Thanksgiving Dinner at Brent's parents. Margaret Elliott Brent's mother hosted a Thanksgiving dinner for all of my family  including my formal in laws! What a great way to mingle, to get to know the Elliott's, I loved it, a huge gathering. Their meal was great, corn on mashed potatoes, sweet dinner rolls were a family favorite. Since being in this family we have added my rasberry pears and deviled eggs to the menu...along with fresh pumpkin pies as we grow the pumpkins.

Today as pasted Thanksgiving days we have been fed yet another day. The idea of feeding one another is a vein that runs all through the scriptures. When Jesus Christ said, “Feed my sheep,” I don’t think he just meant spiritually. He too recognized the power of feeding his own flock with baskets of fish and bread.

This afternoon I took some time to read, relax, and reflect on my blessings after a very large meal...while reading a article about Thanksgiving this is what a author wrote...My feelings exactly!!!
 
"Each time we stand in the kitchen with a hot oven and steaming dishes, each time we gather around the table with a home-cooked meal on our plates or pass it off to someone in need, we offer our own type of sacrament. It is a sacrifice of self to feed our own wily flock of sheep, but it doesn’t go unnoticed, and it should never go unappreciated.
With every bite, we should remember that the Lord would do the same if he were here."
 
2006 Thanksgiving spent with Max and Margaret Elliott
This picture was taken at our reception in 2007 it is a picture of Max and Margaret and one of the few I have of her before her passing in 2008... I am most Thankful for her.
 
 
2007 Thanksgiving at the Cabin in Duck Creek
The kids gathering
 

This was our first married Thanksgiving..we went to a Cabin in Duck Creek. Look how small Trevor was.
Rasberry pears

A pine cone cheese ball...

Playing games


Madelynn Harper

Jaxson Porter

Me, Hayden and Avery Mae
What I remember about this Thanksgiving, I went earlier to cook..get things ready, clean ect. Everyone else arrived later. Brent got new licenced plates on the car. Kyle was on his Mission. Ryan was the only one who would not join us. It snowed. Trevor and Brent took a long walk to the market place for some soda pop. Brent got sick and missed most of the Thanksgiving meal. I brought up a small pool filled with balls for the little ones to play in.
 
 
2008 Thanksgiving here in Farmington
 
 
Eating in our very small dining area

All the food and not enough room to put it out

We set up extra seating in the living rooom
 
We were crowded, but we decorated a cute Thankgiving table...

Our cute cheese penquins
What I remember about this Thanksgiving....I realized we don't all fit, time to think about a bigger kitchen and more dining area. My kids came up, Kyle was still on his Mission. Brents kids...Brandy and Eric, Brooke and Trevor, Rigby were there.


2009 Thanksgiving in Branson Illinois
We went to Nauvoo, Branson on the way home during Thanksgiving...
 

We went ona river boat dinner cruise
 \
The polar bear display on the way to get tickets for the riverboat
 
 
 
This was a cute little village area for shopping ect.
See all the wreaths...

 
I love going places and seeing Christmas decorations
 
The Riverboat

It was decked out for Christmas

 

The entertainment was great and funny

Hot chocolate

A paddle wheel river boat just like the old days
On the top deck of the riverboat

After Thanksgiving we went to another fun place!!!
 
Silverdollar City!!!
 
And they had lots of shows, singing and decked out for Christmas.
 
This is a Christmas tree!!!
 
I want to do something like this in our trees for Christmas...What I remember about this Thanksgiving...not cooking, we ate out and it was a terrible Thanksgiving dinner that we still laugh about. The night before we went on a river boat cruise lovey meal, but Thanksgiving Day we were going to stay in our hotel room and eat stuff I brought on the trip. Brent decided we should go out and so we did. Funny now looking back on it.
I loved Branson and I want to take my Grandkids and kids there!!!
This trip was one of the first long  trips we took together...we had a awesome time...


2010 Thanksgiving at Max Elliott's...
What I remember about this season, my Father being sick...heart surgery

 
2011 Thanksgiving in Cedar City

Lots of testosterone in the basement

Waiting for the pool to open after being shut down

Lila and Ty on the 4 wheelers

Salways

Maddy and Me

Hot tub time

Travis and the girls

Pumpkin seeds Grandma toasted from our pumpkins

More games

Fun swimming place to go to in Cedar City

The guys having fun

Brandy and Eric
 

Little kids table

More games

Funny watching these guys

I like the 4 wheelers I alway have

Travis and Eric always up for competition

The pool was never opened back up... they sent us home

Brent carving the bird

My grandkids
 
Avery hiding from the camera
 
Eric, Crew, Maya


I chuckle at Tys walk it is just like his Dad's..

Table for the grandkids...they set it...

Trevor, Brandi and Eric

Papa Brent getting Crew warm


 
Waiting for the pool to open which it never did, what I remember about this trip
Just before my hysterectomy, not having much energy.
Having fun watching the kids play together, the jump house and going out with the girls Brandi,Lila, Brooke, Megan and Shelley to the  little red house for lunch.
Taking a 4-wheeler ride with Brent
Ryan was on his Mission, every one but the Porter's came
Little Osmond was about five weeks old
Thankful that Shelley and David let us use this house....

And.....so happy to have a new kitchen and dining room just finished before Thanksgiving but we already planned an out of town Thanksgiving!!!

Our many pumpkins this year

 

 
2012 Thanksgiving at Max Elliott's

 
 
Cooking down the many pumpkins for lots of pies and other pumpkin treats!
 
Webb always has a smile

Evening games

Jaxson doing his game playing

Jennifer in for a evening Thanksgiving snack
 
Fun to see Max enjoying himself
WE HAD AT LEAST 14 PIES!!!
We missed the Salway's, Ryan and Brooke...Good news Brooke has her Mission call to San Antonio, Texas...
I miss my Grandkids and Kids....
I enjoyed a skpe phone call from my sister and her family
Got another text from my son...
And a text from my sister Sara...


Decorations this Thanksgiving Season...





 

Loving mashed potatoes the Irish Way!!!

You can use kale instead of cabbage, but I personally prefer the softer and sweeter taste of cabbage. Colcannon is traditionally topped with...