Counting Down To Christmas

The tree is now trimmed, (finally!) the stockings hung with care and a few Christmas cards in the mail – and that’s about it, folks. The laundry still waits, my “to-do” list is still growing but I’m having a good time! Another weekend chock full of Christmas events just passed– including my very first attendance at a Nutcracker performance. WOW! What else can I say to describe Kay Harkins and her crew from Studio K? I doubt that any of the kids in the audience were as wide-eyed and totally captivated as was this young-at-heart gal, who, just 15 months from her 50th birthday, felt younger than she had in years! It was pure magic from start to finish and made me realize that I must’ve missed some of my childhood along the way.

I loved having my niece and her children sharing the weekend festivities with me. We also took in the inspirational drive-through live nativity at Poplar Grove Baptist Church which was no small feat for those involved and required a lot of hard work and dedication, too. Also, a return trip (for me) to the Hayes Center for A High Country Christmas Carol. (Had to keep the “kids” entertained!)

We went to church, had a nice lunch and then spent a pleasant Sunday evening baking cookies and making candy together with seasonal music mingling with sweet aromas in the kitchen. After my company left for their Avery County home, I headed to the couch with a good book. In minutes, I began thinking about that little artificial tree in storage that would look so good in my bedroom. So, there I go - sweet husband and a box of decorations in tow. Two hours later, I head to bed with a good book in hand, awakened six hours later to start a new day. I must’ve been tired.

As I write this, I have nine days left ‘til Christmas. I want to cook and bake and entertain, I need to shop and wrap and clean my house. But most of all, I’m trying not to let distractions keep me from the most important thing - the real reason for the season and that is the birth of Jesus. I hope you are able to do the same. Wishing you the Merriest Christmas ever!

Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts
“These make yummy appetizers. One cup barbecue sauce may be substituted for ketchup and brown sugar.

½ lb. bacon, cut in half
1 (8 oz.) can water chestnuts
¾ cup ketchup
½ cup packed brown sugar
Preheat oven to 375. Wrap ½ strip of bacon around each water chestnut. Combine ketchup and sugar in a small bowl and mix together; dip each wrapped water chestnut into this mixture.
Place water chestnuts in a lightly greased 9x13 inch baking dish and bake covered in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until bacon is crisp.



Easy Christmas Cheesy Spinach and Artichoke Dip
1 can (14 oz.) artichoke hearts, drained, finely chopped
1 pkg. (10 oz) frozen chopped spinach, thawed, drained
¾ cup grated Parmesan Cheese
¾ cup mayonnaise
½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
½ tsp. garlic powder
Pre-heat oven to 350. Mix all ingredients together in a bowl.
Spoon mixture into a 9” quiche dish or pie plate. Bake 20 minutes or until heated through.

Herbed Pull Apart Bread
1 can refrigerated soft breadstick dough
2 Tbsp. butter, melted
½ tsp. dried basil leaves
½ tsp. dried thyme leaves
¼ tsp. dried oregano leaves
2 Tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Separate dough into 8 rounds but do not unroll. Place rounds on a cookie sheet, slightly overlapping dough, in 2 rows of 4. In a small bowl, combine butter and herbs and mix well. Brush this mixture over top of rolls, using all of the mixture. [p[]Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, and bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes until golden brown. Remove immediately from cookie sheet to wire rack; serve warm. 8 servings



Festive Holiday Salad
1 (10 oz.) pkg. mixed salad greens
½ cup slivered almonds
½ cup crumbled feta cheese
1 cup tart apple, cored and chopped
¼ cup sliced red onion
¼ cup golden raisins
1cup raspberry vinaigrette salad dressing
In a large salad bowl, combine salad greens, almonds, feta cheese, apple, red onion and raisins. Toss to blend. Apply salad dressing to individual servings.

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