Our Christmas 2013 Menu

Roasted Turkey & Gravy

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Mustard Glazed Spiral Ham

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Garlic Smashed Potatoes

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Baked Savory Yams

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Roasted Golden Beets

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Braised Brussels Sprouts & Carrots

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Homemade Cranberry Sauce

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Gerkins & Garlic Dill Pickles

Merry Christmas from our family to yours and here's to an amazing 2014 !!

Beads + my two girlies =

 = hours of OT & good creative mojo !!!!

Home Learners Group - Christmas Card Making

SIXTEEN

So excited to have Nana Val & Grandpa Bill come to celebrate with us !!!

( Anthony's pick - Allergen friendly Lemon Meringue Pie :)

( Keisha's request - chocolate gf cupcakes with 3 different types of icingserved on the china treat stand as she calls it:)

Happy 16th Birthday my Loves !!!!

Lemony Blueberryie muffin goodness :)

 The combination of Lemon & Blueberries has always been one of my fav's :))  These beauties are just so yummy that they really should be considered a dessert !

 If you'd like to whip yourself up a batch or two here you go......

You'll need to mix together in a large bowl 4 cups multi-purpose gluten free four blend, 5 tsp baking powder, 2 tsp xanthum gum and a sprinkling of sea salt.

Oh! if you haven't already....turn your oven to 350 & fill your muffin pan with paper liners :)

I a large measuring cup mix together 1 cup oil, the zest from 1 large organic lemon, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 4 eggs and 1 1/4 cups super fine white sugar.  Mix well.  Then add to dry ingredients and mix well.  Gently mix in 2 to 3 cups blueberries ( fresh or frozen).

Fill muffin pans and bake for approx. 30 minutes or so.

Enjoy :)))

Butternut Squash Soup

 Are these not the sweetest little butternut squash ?

They were shared with us from Jim, Joy, Hailey & James's first veggie garden.....grown with love and gifted in love :))  So often people struggle with what to feed or gift us food wise with our diet restrictions & choices.  Not Jim & Joy !!!  After admiring them for a few day....I decided that I'd roast them up and make some super yummy Butternut Squash soup :)

So first I started by cut them in half and cleaning out the seeds.  Then I just tossed them facing up in a 9 x 13 pan, covered with a piece of foil and into a 400 degree oven until they were soft and smelling done .....

Then I allowed them to cool a bit and scooped out the meat of 5 halves into a bowl ( Keisha needed to snack on one :)  smashed them up a bit more and set aside.

In a medium pot I sauteed up 2 small onions, 2 stalks of celery and a couple tablespoons of olive oil.  Once softened I sprinkled in some salt, pepper, dried parsley & cinnamon to taste.  Let saute a few minutes more.  Then in went the squash and about 6 cups of water ( you can use veggie or poultry stock if you wish).  Allow to simmer for about 45minutes or so....it's not to fussy.  Remove from heat.  Then blend. I prefer to use my hand held wand blender......but a regular counter one would work also....you just may need to do it in batches :)

It's super simple and yummy ......that even my non squash eating Ana Rose loves it !!!!

Kimberley Kufaas Photography

It's no secret how much I personally love documented my family through photography.  For sometime now I've been following Kimberley.  I was first introduced to her when viewing the beautiful photos she had taken for a friends wedding.  Then slowly but surely her work started popping up all over the place :)  I love the energy in her photos !  A few weeks ago Kimberley & I started chatting about a shoot that would encompass my family and Jim & Joy's separately and together.  The goal wasn't so much about our kids this time around....more about the shots that Joy & I felt that were missing for our own personal little families.  Shots that included us for one and then some to help document our relationship with each other :) 

" Twenty-five years of friendship and I believe this is the only "would love to blow it up real big & display it " photo that exist of my Jim & I.  I LOVE everything about it !!!! "

Kimberley thank you so much....each and every one of these shots captures " us " and are perfect ! weird faces and all :)