Christmas Countdown

I know, I know, we still have Thanksgiving to get through before Christmas arrives, but we all know that the minute Halloween is over we are going to be bombarded with reminders that Christmas is just around the corner. Don't panic, you still have plenty of time if you use it wisely. If you haven't already, start shopping now...right now! Gather your supplies and decorations and see what you still need to buy. Try picking them up one or two at time every time you go shopping so your not left with a big list of stuff two weeks before the big holiday arrives. Are you making gifts this year? If so you should be working on them now, it will reduce your stress later. And when it come to both Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner, unless your feeding a village (which I know some of you will be) try to keep it simple. Make a shopping list of things you can start buying now like canned goods, boxes of stuffing, flour, sugar etc., and again just get them a little at a time now, so you're not stressing about a big list of stuff later. For today relax, eat some more of the candy your kids got (that's our payment for dragging them around the neighborhood last night) take the fake spider webs down, and look forward to a wonderful and simple Holiday season.

Homemade Doughnuts

3 C Flour
1 C Sugar
3/4 C Buttermilk
2 Eggs
2 Tblsp Shortening
2 Tsp Baking Powder
1 Tsp Baking Soda
1 Tsp Salt
1/2 Tsp Ground Nutmeg

In large bowl mix 1 1/2 C flour and remaining ingredients until smooth. Slowly mix in remaining flour to form soft dough. Refrigerate for one hour. On well floured surface roll out dough to 1/2 inch thick. Use doughnut cutter, or round cookie cutter (you will need to cut out the middle or leave them whole and you can fill them after they are cooked.) and cut out doughnuts. Reroll trimmings and cut again. In deep fryer or large pot heat 3-5 inches of oil on medium heat. Fry 3 or 4 doughnuts at a time, turning as they brown and twice on each side. Remove from oil and place on paper towels. Sprinkle with sugar, cinnamon/sugar mix, powdered sugar, or when cooled frost with your favorite frosting. For filling doughnuts, use a good smooth jam without seeds or a custard. Fill pastry bag with jam or custard, and with long attachment stick it in the side of the doughnut and fill gently. Enjoy!
Making homemade doughnuts seemed like a difficult task, but it really isn't. It was fun and tasty. You can make them whole wheat, less sugar, add blueberries, honey or nuts. Any way you like them without the cost or chemical preservatives you get at the store.

Family Time

Spend a little quality time with your family this weekend. We all get busy and have things to do, but take time out for the ones you love. Have family game night, make a meal or bake some cookies together, do a fun art project (Halloween is just around the corner, so try making some simple decorations and hanging them up), watch a family movie in your living room with a nice bowl of popcorn, visit a carnival or pumpkin patch. Have fun, be creative, laugh until it hurts and remember what your working hard for the rest of the week.

Keeping Healthy

5 Things to help prevent sickness this winter. 

1) Hand washing, a little obvious but often overlooked. If you can't wash your hands avoid touching your face, and try keeping hand sanitizer with you so you can kill germs when you can't get to a sink. 2) Eat right. The healthier you are the better you can fight off germs. 3) Vitamins. Every person is different so find the ones you need. Vitamin C and Echinacea work great for colds. 4) Keep your kids healthy, a lot of parents get sick from the germs their kids bring home from school. Teach them good hand washing skills, and get them some vitamins too. 5) Share this with your family and friends. If they are healthy, it is less likely they will give you any kind of cold or flu. Sick= SAD  Healthy=HAPPY

Soup Recipe

You will need-
2 carrots-sliced
1 stalk celery-chopped med.
1/4 of and onion-chopped fine
2 gloves garlic-chopped fine
3 potatoes-peeled-cut into 2 inch pieces
Salt, pepper, parsley, oregano, and anything else you like for extra flavor.
As always feel free to add more or less of any ingredient to taste.
Pile it all in the crock pot and fill with water and/or chicken, beef, or vegetable stock. Feel free to add chicken or beef cut into 1-2 inch pieces. Also add any other vegetable you want (squash, peas, leaks), the more the merrier! You can also add egg noodles (homemade are best) but for that I recommend omitting the potatoes, because potatoes and noodles is a little much and don't add the noodles until about 30 minutes before your ready to eat so they don't get mushy. Cook for about 6 hours and enjoy with some fresh bread or crackers.