Our Christmas Dinner... With Recipes

Posted by csdferwEHRTJR Kamis, 26 Desember 2013 0 komentar
Hello and Merry Christmas to you all! I hope you guys had a wonderful holiday filled with lots of time spent with family and friends. We really did this year!
So to celebrate this year, we had family over for Christmas dinner at our house on Christmas Eve. We usually go out for a nice dinner on Christmas Eve, then do Christmas dinner mid-day on Christmas day. This year, I really liked the new tradition. To me, Christmas Eve is so special and having a late night dinner followed by lots of time together, presents, and sweets made for a pretty perfect night.

So I didn't get a ton of photos around the actual house since I already shared all of our Christmas decor in my recent Christmas decor video and blog (you can check that out here if you missed it), so I focused mainly on the food.


SO much yumminess! We spread all the food out on the island in the kitchen, which was really easy so that everyone could grab exactly what they wanted. 

Before dinner, as everyone was arriving, we had a few snacks out. This is my FAVORITE dip/spread ever. Everyone likes it and it's super tasty. 



It's called "Pinecone Dip".  I first had it at my bridal luncheon given to me by my mother in law. So this recipe is all thanks to her.


Pinecone Dip
1 1/4 cup sliced, roasted almonds
1 (8oz.) pkg cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup mayonnaise
5 slices crispy bacon
1 T chopped green onions (I always add just a bit more)
1/2 t dill weed
1/8 t pepper

Combined softened cream cheese & mayo. Add bacon, onion, dill, & pepper. Mix well. Chill overnight. Form into a "cone" shape and cover with almonds. 
*You can also roast whole almonds yourself, or use whole, roasted almonds (store bought). Then, when you add them, you overlap them around the dip which is where the "pinecone" name comes from. I don't like chewing into whole almonds, so I used sliced, but you can use whatever you want.


On the other side of the kitchen, I set up sort of a drink area and a little dessert area.

My mom put together this really easy and yummy punch she's been making since I was little. It's so simple. Just lime sherbet and ginger ale. Delish spiked too. ;)


I also put out some Chex to snack on. I didn't bake it like usual. I just grabbed a bag of spicy, and a bag of bold party mix and put it together. 
Oh, and some little clementines of course.

For desserts, I set out some mint sugar cookies my mom made, some little candies, a turtle cheesecake (store bought, frozen... was pretty delish), and a chocolate Coca-Cola cake my mom made.



For dinner, we had ham and turkey, cornbread dressing, squash and broccoli casserole, green beans, mashed potatoes, deviled eggs, and sweet potato casserole.  We also had cranberry sauce, but I had that on the table.



I made the sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, and broccoli casserole. Here are the recipes for those if you're interested...

Broccoli Casserole
2 bags frozen broccoli florets (cooked and drained)
2 cans celery soup
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
1 1/2 cups mayo
4 eggs beaten
salt & pepper to taste
1/2 cup of chopped onion
Topping: Plain or seasoned bread crumbs (whatever you prefer)
small amount of butter for drizzling over the bread crumbs
Cook broccoli as directed. Mix cheese, soup, onion, eggs, mayo, s&p in a large bowl. Fold in broccoli gently. Put in buttered casserole dish. Cook at 400 for 15 minutes. Sprinkle bread crumbs over top and drizzle with a bit of melted butter. Bake another 30-40 minutes until brown.

Sweet Potato Casserole (My Grandma's recipe) 
3 cups cooked, mashed sweet potatoes (I use Bruces canned yams)
1 cup sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 cup evaporated milk 
1/2 cup butter (melted)
Combine mashed sweet potatoes, sugar, eggs, vanilla, milk, & butter. Beat with mixer until smooth. Spoon into a greased 2 quart shallow dish.
Topping: Combine 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar, 1 cup all purpose flour, 1/3 cup melted butter, 1 cup chopped pecans
Sprinkle topping over top of casserole and bake at 350 preheated oven for 30 minutes. Let cool a bit before serving.

For my mashed potatoes, I really don't go by any recipe. So here's my non-specific recipe I just pulled out of my head...

Mashed Potatoes
8 medium-sized gold potatoes (peeled and chopped into chunks)
1 1/2 stick of butter
milk
chopped garlic or garlic powder
salt and pepper
Boil potatoes for about 12-15 minutes. Drain and transfer to a big serving bowl. Add a stick of butter. Mash them with a potato masher (I don't like my potatoes super creamy, I like a smooth-slightly chunky consistency). Add more butter as needed. Add a splash of milk here and there as you mash, until you get the consistency you like. I added at least a cup. Add garlic and salt and pepper to taste. I don't add too much garlic (as I don't want these to be "garlic mashed potatoes"), I just add a small bit for taste.

As far as the actual set-up, most of the serving bowls and platters are my everyday Mikasa "Italian Countryside" dishes, Pyrex, and Corning Wear.  The deviled egg dish is by Wilton  and the little copper three-tiered stand that the bread is on was a great find at World Market years back.  


The little wooden risers are from Pottery Barn a few years back. I found some similar options below.
My "Christmas dishes" with the pretty silver snowflakes are from Target. I got mine a few years back, but they still have the serving dishes.
I think when you have this many dishes grouped together, adding some height is important. Saves you some space, plus it just looks pretty!

We had dinner in the dining room, which looked pretty similar to the home decor tour. I just set out some red cloth placemats, a red holiday candle, and called it done. :)

I was SO surprised to receive these beautiful flowers the day before. They are from my sweet friends, Andrea and her mother, Michele. So thoughtful! They looked perfect in the kitchen. We're still enjoying them.




So that's it! I hope you all had a great holiday! I do have an upcoming "What I Got For Christmas" video in the works! It should go up Friday night, maybe Saturday. Since you guys really enjoyed last year's version, I thought I'd continue the tradition. Or should I say, start a new tradition?

Merry Christmas, Loves! I'm so thankful for you all... For all the support and how wonderful YOU guys make the blog and my videos. This has been such a happy and wonderful place to be and thing I've been able to do the past almost 6 years. It is SO much fun to do and to be able to share my life with you guys. Seriously, thank you. :)
Love you guys.



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The Earth laughs with Mila Kunis's Eyes

Posted by csdferwEHRTJR Selasa, 24 Desember 2013 0 komentar
 “The eyes are one of the most powerful tools a woman can have. With one look, she can relay the most intimate message. After the connection is made, words cease to exist. ” 

Jennifer Salaiz

“The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: his eyes are closed.”
 Albert Einstein

The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.
Audrey Hepburn























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New Year's Eve Party Makeup Tutorial & OOTD

Posted by csdferwEHRTJR Senin, 23 Desember 2013 0 komentar
O.M.G, you guys... Christmas is in 2 DAYS!! I can't even believe it! So before the holiday celebration gets officially underway around here, I wanted to share with you all one of my "go-to" party makeup looks, perfect for New Year's Eve! This would also be gorgeous for a Christmas Eve dinner celebration, or just any party in general, really. It's one of my favorite looks, and best of all, is super simple!

I also put together sort of an effortless and fun party look that works especially well in our neck of the woods, where it can get pretty cold on New Year's Eve.
Not that wearing a slinky little dress that covers a quarter of my body can't be fun, but seriously, I like to dress season-appropriate for where I live. I've always been like that.  So definitely don't feel like you have to go the typical sequined mini or tiny dress route for New Year's if it's freezing out.
You can definitely dress party-appropriate, fashionable, and be season-appropriate.
There's so many awesome options!

So check out my full video at the bottom of the post for a step-by-step tutorial on the makeup look as well as more info on the outfit. Hope you all love it!

But first, here's all the details...




products used for the makeup look:

not shown in video:


This outfit reflects my personal style perfectly... I'd like to say my style is effortless (not like I tried too hard or too trendy), classic, and with a bit of an edge.
Most of the elements are simple and chic (fitted blazer, silk top, leather tassel clutch), with one pretty trendy element.... the slouchy, tapered pant.  Oh, and a few edgy elements: the necklace, and spikes on the back of otherwise classic pointed-toe shoes.

So let's talk about these pants...


I'm a little obsessed with them. They're slouchy, tapered, and in a gorgeous crepe-y fabric that looks and feels really nice.
I also have them in black. They seriously go with whatever you put with them. They're just so easy.  The nicer fabric gives them much more versatility than a typical cotton knit style.


The bright fabric (these are in the shade "carnelian") provides a little pop for the outfit. That's a big tip of mine where New Year's Eve is concerned. Don't get lost in a sea of black clothing. Black is such a popular pick for New Year's. Stand out with a pop of unexpected color. Whether it's with fun shoes, a bag, or in my case, fun pants.


Some large, chunky accessories, and these fabulous (and affordable shoes) complete the look.


outfit details...

jacket by Zara (similar)




Oh, and who can resist this little honey bear?  He's saying, "Laaady, it's not even New Year's... What the heck are you doing?"



I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas! 



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Gift of Nature "Amazing Health Benefits of Banana"

Posted by csdferwEHRTJR 0 komentar

Banana is one of the most widely eaten fruits in the world, which is readily recognised because of its distinctive shape and bright colours. Interestingly, this amazing fruit, in
fact has a lot to offer, both nutritionally, as well as in relieving the symptoms of a myriad of physical complaints, reports Sade Oguntola.

Wonderfully sweet with firm and creamy flesh, bananas come prepackaged in their own yellow jackets and are available for harvest throughout the year.

The banana plant grows 10 to 26 feet and belongs to the Musaceae family of plants along with plantains.

The cluster of fruits contain anywhere from 50 to 150 bananas with individual fruits grouped in bunches, known as "hands," containing 10 to 25 bananas.

History:

Bananas are thought to have originated in Malaysia around 4,000 years ago. From there, they spread throughout the Philippines and India, where in 327 B.C. Alexander the Great's army recorded them being grown.

Bananas were introduced to Africa by Arabian traders and discovered there in 1482 A.D. by Portuguese explorers who took them to the Americas, the place where the majority of bananas are now produced.

Bananas were not brought to the United States for sale in markets until the latter part of the 19th century and were initially only enjoyed by people in the seacoast towns where the banana schooners docked; because of the fruit's fragility, they were unable to be transported far.

Since the development of refrigeration and rapid transport in the 20th century, bananas have become widely available. Today, bananas grow in most tropical and subtropical regions with the main commercial producers including Costa Rica, Mexico, Ecuador and Brazil.

Amazing Health Benefits of Banana:

1. Bananas help overcome depression due high levels of tryptophan,
    which is converted into serotonin -- the happy-mood brain
    neurotransmitter
2. Eat two bananas before a strenuous workout to pack an energy punch
    and sustain your blood sugar
3. Protect against muscle cramps during workouts and night time leg
   cramps by eating a banana
4. Counteract calcium loss during urination and build strong bones by
   supplementing with a banana
5. Improve your mood and reduce PMS symptoms by eating a banana,
    which regulates blood sugar and produces stress-relieving relaxation
6. Bananas reduce swelling, protect against type II diabetes, aid weight
    loss, strengthen the nervous system, and help with the production of
    white blood cells, all due to high levels of vitamin B-6
7. Strengthen your blood and relieve anemia with the added iron from
    bananas
8. High in potassium and low in salt, bananas are officially recognized by
    the FDA as being able to lower blood pressure, and protect against heart
    attack and stroke

Eating bananas aids digestion:

9. Rich in pectin, bananas aid digestion and gently chelate toxins and
    heavy metals from the body
10. Bananas act as a prebiotic, stimulating the growth of friendly bacteria in
      the bowel. They also produce digestive enzymes to assist in absorbing
     nutrients.
11. Constipated? High fiber in bananas can help normalize bowel motility.
12. Got the runs? Bananas are soothing to the digestive tract and help
      restore lost electrolytes after diarrhea.
13. Bananas are a natural antacid, providing relief from acid reflux,
      heartburn and GERD
14. Bananas are the only raw fruit that can be consumed without distress to
      relieve stomach ulcers by coating the lining of the stomach against
     corrosive acids

Natural cures from a simple banana

15. Eating bananas helps prevent kidney cancer, protects the eyes against
      macular degeneration and builds strong bones by increasing
      calcium absorption
16. Bananas make you smarter and help with learning by making you more
     alert. Eat a banana before an exam to benefit from the high levels
     of potassium.
17. Bananas are high in antioxidants, providing free radicals and protection
      from chronic disease
18. Eating a banana between meals helps stabilize blood sugar and reduce
      nausea from morning sickness
19. Rub a bug bite or hives with the inside of the banana peel to relieve
      itching and irritation
20. Control blood sugar and avoid binging between meals by eating a
      banana
21. Eating a banana can lower the body temperature and cool you during a
      fever or on a hot day
22. The natural mood-enhancer tryptophan, helps to relieve Seasonal
      Affective Disorder (SAD)
23. Quitting smoking? Bananas contain high levels of B-vitamins as well as
      potassium and magnesium speed recovery from the effects of
     withdrawal
24. Remove a wart by placing the inside of a piece of banana peel against
      the wart and taping it in place
25. Rub the inside of a banana peel on your leather shoes or handbag and
      polish with a dry cloth for a quick shine

Nutrients in
Banana
1.00 each (118.00 grams)
Nutrient%Daily Value

 vitamin                                   B621.5%

 vitamin                                   C17.1%

 manganese                              16%

 fiber                                        12.2%

 potassium                               12%

Calories (                                 105)5%


Photo Gallery of Banana & Banana Flower:
 
























Source Link: http://www.naturalnews.com/036771_bananas_digestion.html
                  http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=7

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