Merry Christmas and Joyous Yule

My gift to you is a story about a little girl who woke up to nothing under the Christmas tree --

She never noticed there was nothing, and I mean NOTHING under the tree except a pair of mittens and hat for her and her brother, wrapped in red paper and green ribbons from their mother.

What she did notice was the beautiful tree, the music and her Mom crying. She didn't understand why her mother was crying because it was Christmas and she didn't think she (or her brother) had done anything wrong to make her mother cry.

The mother, recently divorced had depended on the father to keep to his promise and buy all the presents that year as the mother was suddenly a single mom to 2 small children and had spent what savings she had to enroll in business school so she could get a job and keep a roof over their heads.

None of that mattered to the little girl, all that mattered to her was that her mother was crying.

The next year, the mother was determined not to have nothing but a skirt under the tree. She scrimped and saved and Santa bought EVERYTHING the little girl and boy wanted.

That year it was the little girl who cried. The mother was the one confused... the children got everything they ever said they wanted that year. The mother asked why the little girl was crying because Santa got her everything she wanted.

The little girl looked at her mother and said... "Santa got me presents, but you didn't get me anything. Why didn't you get me mittens and a hat this year?"

The mother had given Santa all the credit... and all that went through the daughters head was, her mother had forgotten about her.

That night, the little girl understood that her mother WAS Santa. That her mother had been the one to do everything, and she understood now why the mother didn't have a winter coat. Living in New England, a good winter coat is a NEED. She understood why her mother had gone without a LOT that year.

The little girl curled up with her mother that night and told her that she loved her and she promised not to tell her baby brother the 'secret' and wanted her mother to bring back some of the things, so her mother could have a winter coat.

What's For Dinner?

I've been trying to figure out what to make for the 25th. Diva will be with Shrugs and the Outlaws until noon and Elvis is working and we have NO idea when he will be home. As of right now there are only a few jobs scheduled, but that can change that day.

The Outlaws have also invited us all to come over around 5 or so. I know it's just because they want to spend more time with Diva, I can't fault them for that... I don't know if we will go or not yet. Shrugs passed the invite, but I haven't heard from either Outlaw about it.

Whatever I make has to be somewhat easy to make because I don't want to spend all my time in the kitchen. Of course, I asked what they wanted... Diva wants cheeseburgers, Elvis doesn't know what he wants, but wants something 'fancier than burgers'.

FINE !!!

Poor Man's Turkey Wellington

1 pound ground turkey
1 1/2 cups chopped yellow onions
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1/4 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 large egg
2 tablespoons water
Mashed Potatoes
3/4 cup diced smoked Gouda
1 cup grated sharp cheddar
2 sheets puff pastry

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
In a large skillet, cook the turkey, stirring, over high heat until no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Add the onions, garlic, crushed red pepper and 1/4 teaspoon of the salt and cook, stirring, until the onions are soft and lightly caramelized, about 7 minutes. Add the tomato paste and heavy cream and cook until the cream is evaporated, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and spread on a plate to cool.

In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the thyme, Worcestershire and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring often, until most of the liquid has evaporated, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and spread on a plate to cool.

In a small bowl, beat the egg and water to make an egg wash.

On a lightly floured surface, 1 at a time, roll the puff pastry sheets to an 1/8-inch thickness, about 11 inches square. Cut each sheet into 2 rectangles. Spread 1/4 of the cooled mashed potatoes along the lower third of the pastry, leaving a 1-inch border on 3 sides. Top with the turkey, then sprinkle the Gouda cubes over the top. Brush the sides with egg wash and fold the pastry over the filling to completely enclose. Press to seal the edges and with the tines of a fork, press to seal tightly. Transfer to a large baking sheet and paint with the egg wash. Cut 5 small steam vents in the top of the pastry. Repeat with remaining ingredients.

Bake until starting to turn golden brown, 15 to 16 minutes. Sprinkle the top with the cheese and bake until the pastry is golden brown and the cheese is melted, about 4 minutes.

Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Transfer to a large serving platter, slice and serve hot.

I'm Hooked

Okay, not really, but I thought it was a cute title...

I've been working on Diva's blanket. It's Spring Green and Boston Rose (so far).

I still need to buy more yarn, I forgot how little you get when you crochet and the frugalista in me is screaming "Next time KNIT because it goes farther!"

I think another 2 skeins should do it, but, I am still prepared to force myself BACK to the yarn department if I need another 2 skeins after that (hehehe)

Update: I have added another 2 skeins of Deco (fancy way of saying white) and it still looks too short. I have another skein of Spring Green but I bought the last one. I will have to try to track down another one, or just order it online.

Starting Yule Gifts for 2010

Yes, you read that correctly -- I am going to start working on the gifts for next Yule.

I decided that 2010 will be a COMPLETELY home-made holiday. If I didn't make it, I'm not giving it. I have a small list of people we give to every year and none of them need anything !!!

As I find the projects, I will post them here. I have so many skeins of yarn and totes of fabric just sitting here, begging to be made in to something that someone can love. The hardest part is thinking of tokens that the recipients will appreciate.

On the list are 4 kids (age at holiday)- Diva (10), Pepsi (9), Ballerina (4), Dribbles (2)
Adults - Elvis, Shrugs, Out-laws, GodMother, GodFather, UnkiAunt, Mimi