caramelized ham & swiss buns

Caramelized Ham & Swiss Buns

15 Sandwiches

{adapted from a Taste of Home Recipe}

Ingredients

15 slider rolls, split

3/4 cup horseradish sauce or mayonnaise

15 slices deli ham

8 slices Swiss cheese, halved

3/4 cup butter

1/4 cup finely chopped onion

3 tablespoons brown sugar

2 tablespoon spicy brown mustard

3 teaspoons poppy seeds

2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

Directions

Spread roll bottoms with horseradish sauce. Layer with ham and cheese; replace tops. Arrange in a single layer in a greased 10x14-inch-baking pan.

In a small skillet, heat butter over medium-high heat. Add onion; cook and stir 1-2 minutes or until tender. Stir in remaining ingredients. Pour over rolls. Refrigerate, covered, several hours or overnight.

Preheat oven to 350°.

Bake, covered for 25 minutes.

Bake, uncovered for 5-10 minutes longer or until golden brown.

Taste of Home Recipe

creative christmas bowling

During our annual christmas family bowling we got a bit creative  . . . 

frame one: use your non-dominate hand . . . 

frame two: keep one hand in your back pocket . . .

frame three: two handed roll . . . 

frame four: do a pirouette before releasing the ball . . . 

frame five: hike it like a football . . . 

frame six: take eight steps before releasing the ball . . . 

frame seven: start in the neighboring lane and cross over to yours . . .

frame eight: hop on one foot . . . 

frame nine: keep both feet planted {or at least try} . . . 

frame ten: hold hands with a friend . . . 

so now you get the idea - everyone got to choose one way to bowl

what would your ideas be ??

I'll let you in on a secret . . . 

one of our bowlers had a higher score with 

creative bowling than regular bowling 

but I won't mention who

the moment in the middle

Hold your breath.
Here it is.
Christmas Eve.
My favorite time of the Christmas Season.
The perfect moment between all the preparations and all of the celebrations.

All is done yet all is yet to come . . .
"It was a moment of perfection he would probably not find again this year, and he sat without moving, almost without breathing. There was the upside of a garden, when one was digging and planting, heaving and hauling, and then the downside, when it was all weeding and grooming and watering and sweating. One had to be fleet to catch the moment in the middle, the mountaintop, when perfection was as brief as the visit of a butterfly to an outstretched palm.

From the book Out to Cannan (the fourth book in the Mitford series)
by: Jan Karon

tealight snowman

When our extended family gets together for a Christmas brunch I like to bring a little favor. This year it will be tealight snowmen.  I got the idea from my daughter in-law who sent me a picture of a very cute scrapbook tealight snowman project. I simplified the idea and headed to the dollar store.  If you want to see fancier versions just do an image search and you will see lots of great ideas.

A few projects from previous years:

flameless candle lamp shade

quilt ornament bag

market bags

paper evergreens

subway art

hastings hats

slouch bags

thanksgiving

Mr. Corners brought a little bit of home

with us to Florida . . . .

Spaghetti Squash with Artichokes

Spaghetti Squash Artichoke Gratin 

Servings: 8 {150 calories} Servings: 6 {190 calories} 

photo credit: kitchenserendipity.com

Ingredients:
2 tablespoon unsalted butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1 cup whole milk
2 garlic cloves, smashed and peeled
14 oz artichoke quarters, drained
2 teaspoons chopped sage leaves
5 cups Roasted Spaghetti Squash (see directions below)
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
4 tablespoons grated Parmesan

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2. In a large pot, melt 2 Tbls butter and then stir in 2 Tbls flour until a paste forms. Gradually add broth, milk, garlic and 1 tsp sage stirring continually. Bring to a low simmer, and cook until thickened, 6+ minutes.

3. Add artichokes and squash to sauce and season with salt and pepper

4. Transfer to a 2-quart shallow baking dish.

5. In a small bowl, combine 1 teaspoon sage, breadcrumbs, and Parmesan. Sprinkle over squash.

6. Bake until top is golden brown and mixture is bubbling at edges, 20 to 25 minutes.

How to Roast Spaghetti Squash in the Microwave

Cut the spaghetti squash lengthwise (remove the stem first)

Scrape out the seeds and fibers using a large spoon.

Take one of the halves and put it cut-side-up in a close-fitting microwave dish. 

You want it to be as stable and as level as possible. 

If it isn't, cut a very thin strip of skin from the bottom.

Pour 1/2 cup water into the hollow of the squash itself (not into the dish), 

then place the other half on top cut-side-down.

Carefully place it in the microwave and cook on full power. 

A large squash will take about 15-20 minutes to cook.

To test for doneness, squeeze the top half gently.

If it's flexible, it's likely to be done. 

Carefully remove the top half to see if the flesh has turned 

a rich, semi-translucent yellow (as opposed to opaque yellow-white)

Drain any remaining water and pull out the strands with a fork.

collections

Throughout our marriage we have been collectors.

{baskets, candlesticks, tins, wooden bowls, R. Atkinson Fox prints, aprons, scrabble games, 

quilts, grapes,watermelons, rocking horses, vintage table cloths, gurley candles, snowmen}

Although it was fun at the time - now what do we do with it all?

As a child my mother collected for me . . .

buttons and miniature lamps.

What shall I do with all of them?

Advice to my children: Don't collect anything!

Oh - and get rid of all those things Grandma collected for you 

{clowns, ducks, horses, sheep}

Leisure House 07

Let me show you the living room in our Leisure House . . .

We created an entryway by 

positioning the sofa near the door.

{still searching for a painting to hang over this chest}

When you visit, this is what we want you to do - relax

This fun chest has interchangeable door panels.

We chose these paintings but you could also have 

bead-board or glass.

Since it is a "great room" you see all three rooms as you enter.

The sofa was the first thing we purchased so

the colors became our inspiration.

It holds a hide-a-bed with an inflatable air mattress.

We have been looking for baskets to hold 

various items without much luck so I made 

one with the perfect dimensions.

A fun tray with just the right colors.

Swivel rockers complete the seating.

For foot rests, Jim painted unfinished stools

and we found these pillows to top them off.

Gotta love that pop-of-orange.

I made all the window valances from a 

drop-cloth I purchased at Walmart.

Great texture and you can't beat the price.

The nautical clock is from the clearance section 

of a local furniture store.

I love the wooden blinds and

wish I had them up north as well.

I'd love to have you sit here and chat

while I cook you dinner.