What I do with all of the Christmas Photo Cards....

A quick and easy way....

...to save all of the great photo cards you receive during the holidays...

....it's always fun to look back and she how everyone has changed!

In case you need instructions, go here ...LOL

Christmas Quiche...

I made a Spinach and Cheese Quiche for breakfast on Christmas morning - and added tomatoes the last few minutes of baking....

...and we "flavored" the coffee with Bailey's or Asbach brandy!

A great way to start the day!

Quiche recipe HERE

Baked Cheesy Spaghetti Squash

Baked Cheesy Spaghetti Squash is a tasty addition to any meal - If you like this type of squash, then this is a "must try":

Ingredients:

• 1 large spaghetti squash
• 2 1/2 T minced or crushed garlic
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 2-3 T Garlic olive oil
• 5 oz fresh spinach (or frozen with moisture taken out)
• 1/2 cup cream
• 1 T cream cheese
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
• salt and pepper

• Preheat oven to 400'.  Sliced Spaghetti Squash in half, scoop out seeds, drizzle cut side with a bit of garlic olive oil, salt and pepper and bake face down for about 30-40 minutes  (skin will be easy to pierce with a fork).
• While this is baking, drizzle some Garlic olive oil in a fry pan and sauté garlic and onion, add spinach to wilt, add cream, cream cheese and parmesan cheese.  Season with salt and pepper and remove from heat.
• Remove "spaghetti strands" from squash into a bowl and stir in cheese sauce - blend well.
• Pour into a baking dish and bake for 20 -30 minutes, until hot and bubbly.

ENJOY!

Lights on the Lake, Liverpool, NY

Lights on the Lake takes place yearly on Onondaga Lake....

It's an "over a mile" drive through event sponsored by many local businesses.  Cars turn off their lights and creep slowly to view many holiday scenes lit up on the shore of the lake....

The Park is so festive and it's a "must do" every December for us....

...especially in the snow!

Happy Holidays!

Sweet Chicken Bacon Bites

This is often my "go-to" appetizer if I can't come up with a better idea!

I cut up chicken breast into bite size pieces and wrap each piece in a half slice of back and secure with a toothpick:

I make a mixture of chili powder, brown sugar and spices....

....and dredge each piece....

...and place them on a rack on a cookie sheet (don't want them to sit in bacon grease)...

...and bake for about 30 min!

YUM!

Sweet Chicken Bacon Bites

2-3 chicken breasts
1 lb bacon
2/3 c brown sugar
2 1/2 T Chili Powder
1/2 t Spicy Montreal Steak seasoning

Preheat oven to 350'.  Cut chicken into bite size pieces.  Cut bacon slices into thirds and wrap each chicken piece with a slice of bacon and secure with a toothpick.  Stir together sugar and spices in a small bowl and dredge each wrapped chicken piece in the mixture. Coat a rack and cookie sheet with Cooking spray and place each piece on rack.  Bake for 30 min.

One of my favorite Mackenzie-Childs pieces....

One of my favorite MacKenzie-Childs pieces is the Courtly Check Enamel Tray.  I think it is used in my home more than any other piece I own!

You can buy it here

Our family has a tradition of taking a shot of Blackberry Brandy every time we are together and it is perfect to hold our vintage glasses and John's decanter:

It is just the right size for little Happy Hours snacks...

... or to set up a Hot Cocoa Station on a snowy day...

...it keeps a coffee station nice and tidy...

...and makes it easy to gather sweets for the kids...

...it's perfect for serving special cookies...

...for serving appetizers to a crowd...

...or for everyday Happy Hours for two!

If you are looking for a "special piece" from MacKenzie-Childs, I highly recommend purchasing this one piece - and the price is reasonable, too!!

I'm seeing stars....

We have had our share of snow already, so I set a table for 2 for a cozy wintery dinner of meatloaf, mashed potatoes, veggies and warm rolls!

I tied the napkins in "bows" through pewter napkin rings that were a wedding present from our "Maid  of Honor" in 1980...

...greenery, gold stars and mirrored coasters trimmed the table...

...and the wine glasses were a gift from a friend many years ago....

...the starry white dishes were found in a second hand shop...

...and coordinated well with an old set of dishes from Target...

...and the flatware was from Pottery Barn.

Dinner was delish and the stars were out tonight!

Easy Candy.....

Some call it toffee, some call it brittle, some call it choc crackers....

and I call it easy!

At the end, I sprinkled on asst chopped nuts!

Easy Peasy!