Fa la la la la, la la la la!

Are you sick of Christmas carols yet?

We played some fun games on Christmas Eve with our family.  We sang the 12 days of Christmas, played Christmas carols with bells (that we tapped with spoons) and BINGO!  It’s always a hoot watching everyone search thru the piles of bingo gifts in the middle of the living room floor.  Feeling, poking, squishing, rubbing the gifts to try and guess which one they may want!

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Of course there was an over abundance of appetizers, meal items, desserts and treats for us all to indulge in!

Fruity Freeze

Simple and sweet, this frozen treat is as easy as it gets.  Process 1 (16 oz) bag frozen strawberries, 3/4 c. orange juice, and 2 teaspoons fresh lime juice with 1-2 cups of ice in a blender until smooth.  Top it with a straw or spoon, and enjoy!  SLURP!

Recipe from Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade

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Snowy Yule Log

• 1/3 c. confectioners sugar
• 1 box angel food cake mix (16 oz.)
• 1 (3.3 oz.) pkg. instant white chocolate pudding mix
• 1 c. cold milk
• 1 c. thawed Cool Whip
• Confectioners sugar for dusting
• 8 oz. vanilla flavored candy coating

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a rimmed 15×10 inch baking sheet with parchment paper.  Sift 1/3c. confectioners sugar evenly over a clean towel.

Prepare cake mix according to pkg. directions.  Pour into prepared pan.  Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.

Loosen edges of cake from pan, if necessary.  Invert warm cake onto prepared towel.  Carefully remove and discard parchment paper.  Starting at 1 long side, roll up cake and towel together, and let cool completely.

In a large bowl, combine pudding mix and cold milk, whisking well.  Cover, and refrigerate until set.  Fold in 1 cup whipped topping.

Unroll cake, and removed towel.  Spread filling over cake and reroll, ending seam-side down.  Wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate until ready to serve.  Transfer to a serving platter, seam-side down, and sift desired amount of confectioners sugar over the top before serving.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.  In a small microwave-safe bowl, melt candy coating according to pkg. directions, whisking until smooth.  Spoon into a large heavy duty plastic bag.  Snip 1 corner of bag with scissors to make a small hole.  Pipe candy coating into holiday designs (stars, trees etc.) on parchment paper.  Cool completely.  Arrange on yule log in desired pattern.

Recipe found in Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade magazine Dec.-Jan. 2010.

We also drizzled some icing over the yule log made of powedered sugar and milk!

This snowy yule log was incredibly scrumptious!

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Enchilada Pizza

• 1 pizza crust
• 1/2 c. enchilada sauce
• 1 c. shredded cheddar-jack cheese
• 1 c. chili beans drained
• 1 c. cooked chicken, diced
• 1/2 c. chopped onions, optional

Toppings:  Sour cream, lettuce, tomatoes, black olives, salsa and jalapenos

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Place pizza crust on 13×9 inch pan sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.  Spread with enchilada sauce on crust to within 1/2 inch of edges.  Evenly scatter on chicken, cheese and beans.  Bake at 425 degrees for 16-17 min.  You can also add chopped onions here too if you wish.

Bake at 425 degrees for 16-17 min. or until crust is browned and done.

Slice, serve and top with the toppings of your choice!

Enjoy~

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We always open presents and sift through our stockings at my parents house on Christmas morning!  Santa still comes and I love it!  I got so many cool scarves, hats and gloves this year, I can’t wait to wear them all 🙂

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Cheese Crescent Triangles

• 4 oz. tomato basil feta cheese, finely crumbled (1 cup)
• 2 Tbsp. finely chopped green onions (2 medium)
• 1 egg, well beaten
• 1 can Pillsbury refrigerated crescent dinner rolls
• 1 Tbsp. grated parmesan cheese

Heave oven to 375 degrees.  In small bowl, mix feta cheese, green onions and 3 Tbsp. of the beaten egg.

Unroll dough, separate into 4 rectangles.  Press perforations to seal. 

Press each rectangle into 7 1/2×5 inch rectangle.  Cut rectangle into 3 rows by 2 rows to make 6 (2 1/2 inch) squares.  Top each dough square with slightly rounded measuring teaspoon full of feta cheese mixture.  Fold dough over filling, forming triangle, press edges to seal.   On ungreased cookie sheets, place triangles 2 inches apart.  Repeat with remaining 3 dough rectangles and feta cheese mixture.

Brush tops with remaining beaten egg.  Sprinkle lightly with parmesan cheese.

Bake 9-11 minutes or until golden brown.  Serve warm.

So delicious!

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Sporting my furry new leopard coat!

And my new black furry hat with flower adornment and ear flaps to keep my ears warm!

I gave my brother the “Worlds Largest” Reese’s Cups, don’t they look big and yummy!  And I gave my sister-in-law 3 industrial necklaces that I made.  To see my post on those click here.

And I got 2 new Nicole Lee purses that are just oh so fabulous!!!

Christmas was such a blessing this year! 

I hope you had an exciting Christmas too!

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What is one thing that made your holiday exciting this year?