Just Stuff It Into The Freezer

So during my Christmas Holiday break from Nursing School I decided to cook - A Lot.  I didn't only cook for our everyday meals, but I cooked meals for the upcoming months when I will be rigorously studying, and won't be cooking.  What I did was I went to dollar tree, bought up a bunch of aluminum pans of all sizes, to put my extra casseroles in.
This is how I did it:  I spent the last 3 weeks (and I am not finished) cooking our favorite casseroles for dinner, and I doubled and tripled the ingredients, and put the extras into the aluminum pans and then I "Just Stuff It Into The Freezer".  Viola!  I now do not have to worry about what we are going to eat when I am studying so hard I don't have time to put a meal together.
So this past week (after I ingeniously came up with the idea in my little brain) I was accepted to the Elite Group of Pinterest and found that somebody else was that smart too, and they posted a picture (see below).  I plan to post one of my freezer when I am done, it is not quite this impressive as of yet.
But one 'lil secret that I left out about mine is that for every different casserole I make up until Christmas, I am also  making a 4 serving one for part of a special friends Christmas Gift - Shhhhhhhhhh.  I did say I was in Nursing School - which means I am making a bunch of my Christmas gifts this year because I am cheap  to be Thrifty.  Which I happen to think is a great gift idea.

So if you have a busy life, think about this idea.  It makes me feel so good when I open that big freezer and see all those dee-lish-us ready to go meals!

Happy Cooking,

Cindy Lou...

Simple Saturday

I Decided In Light Of My Goal To Drink The 12 Days Of Christmas That I Would Like Have To Keep Today Rather Simple By Just Showing You What I Drank Last Night For The "3rd Day Of Christmas Cocktails".

Real Pretty Ehhh... Yeah I Thought So Tooooo!!!

On The 3rd Day Of Christmas - Midori Melon D-D-D-Drops!!!

So There You Have It... I Like Beer Better!!!

Cindy Lou...

Can I Pinterest You In Some Impossibly INEXPENSIVE Weekend Christmas Projects !!!

OMG OMG OMGosh... I can't believe it - Oh WOW - I have been waiting for weeks (I mean weeks) to be accepted to the Elite Group Of Pinterest.

Now I can do many Pinteresting things with all my addicted friends (seriously I can not wait)..

But First Thing Is First... I am still drinking my way through Christmas with the 12 Days of Christmas Drinks.  Last Night's Drink!!! 

The 2nd Day of Christmas - A "Rum Chata White Russian"...

Impossibly Easy Edible Treats - Nom Nom Nom

Peanut Butter Reindeer Cookies*  Peanut Butter Cookie Dough (any kind)
*  Chocolate Covered Pretzels
*  M&M's

Use Cookie Cutters...

   Child Handprint - Date It - Name It - Gift It!!!

SALT DOUGH ORNAMENTS

12 small hand prints (change servings and units)
Ingredients
4 cups "All Purpose" Flour
1 cup salt
1 1/2 cups water
Directions
Combine ingredients and knead dough for 15 to 20 minutes.
Bake on 325 for 1 hour or until they are hard all the way through.

Here's a Great Up Cycle Idea!!!  You can use a "Holiday Theme" or You can use a "More Common Theme" to us Southerners - "SEC FOOTBALL"...  Sorry Bammer's she did not have an "UA" but I am going to make one this weekend!!!  And Barner's can make their "UA"!!!  How awesome is this - Finally something to do with all those huge bags of beads in our attics.  I will have to confess I have already been crafty with my Mardi Gras Beads this year - I made an "Ugly Christmas Sweater/Shirt" out of a long sleeve camo shirt, and hand-stitched Mardi Gras Beads on it, in the design of a Christmas Tree - which I plan on sharing with you when I wear it again!!!  I thought it was by far the ugliest/tackiest thing I had ever seen - but the one time I wore it I had compliments and get this - I even had a couple of women ask me where I got it (yes, I promise - can't make that crap up)...

I just love these bottles.  And sooo simple.  Just take empty wine or booze bottles and spray paint any color you like.  Personally I think Silver or Gold shiny, sparkly or glittery paint will look the best.  Then Just write whatever you like on them.  There were no directions for these, but to me it looks like they spray painted the insides (not outsides), but either way will look nice.  I am going to make some this weekend.

Adorable Cupcake Ornaments...Project Estimate:

• Mini cupcake liners, $1
• Mini ornaments, $1
• Faux berries, $1
• Paint (for "frosting"), on hand or $1
• Glitter, on hand or $1
• Glue gun, on hand

Total: $3 and up

Have A Great Holiday Weekend & Be Sure To Share With Me How Yours Turned Out!!!

Cindy Lou...

Christmas Cocktail Recipes

Yum Yum Yummy

These Cocktails are so inspiring that I think I will do my own 12 Days Of Christmas Drinks again this year - like I did last Year!

So I Started My 1st Day Of Christmas Drinks Last Night - CHEERS!!!

On The 1st Day Of Christmas - I Had A Very Very Dirty Mar-TeTe-Teeni!!!

So Here Are Some Great Christmas Cocktail Ideas For You...
Happy Drinking...

Tinsel Bellini

Tinsel Bellini

2 oz. HPNOTIQ

1 oz. limoncello

1 oz. Champagne

Splash of lime juice

Rim the Champagne flute with a light coat of sugar. Pour chilled HPNOTIQ, limoncello, and Champagne into the champagne flute. Add a splash of lime juice.

The Ninth Night

The Ninth Night

2 oz. SKYY Infusions Citrus

1 oz. Triple Sec

1 oz. white cranberry juice

Lemon-lime soda

Lime juice

Combine SKYY Infusions Citrus, Triple Sec, and cranberry juice in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into tall rocks glass with fresh ice. Top with soda and lots of fresh lime juice. Garnish with blue ribbon around the glass.

Sazerac - "Official Cocktail of the City of NOLA"
(I plan on trying one of these when I'm there for BCS Championship - Nom Nom Nom)

Sazerac

The Sazerac is likely the first cocktail born in the Crescent City. It is now the Official Cocktail of the City of NOLA.

1.5 oz. Sazerac Rye Whiskey

1 cube sugar

1/4 oz. Herbsaint

3 dashes Peychaud's Bitters

Lemon peel

Pack an Old-Fashioned glass with ice. In a second Old-Fashioned glass, place the sugar cube and add the Peychaud's Bitters to it, then crush the sugar cube. Add the Sazerac Rye Whiskey to the second glass containing the Peychaud's Bitters and sugar. Empty the ice from the first glass and coat the glass with the Herbsaint, then discard the remaining Herbsaint. Empty the whiskey/bitters/sugar mixture from the second glass into the first glass and garnish with lemon peel.

Merry Christi
Merry Christi

2.5 oz. Christiana vodka

2 tbsp. hot chocolate mix

2.5 oz. milk

Mix ingredients together and garnish with dark chocolate shavings.

Yuletide Punch

Yuletide Punch

750 ml Sobieski Polish Vodka

4 cups chai tea (sweetened according to taste)

4 cups clear apple juice

2 whole orange cut in slices

2 whole red apples cut in slices

1-2 tsp. orange bitters (optional)

(Makes 16 servings)

Marnier Chocolate BonBon
Marnier Chocolate Bonbon

1 oz. Grand Marnier

1/2 oz. Don Julio Anejo Tequila

3 oz. hot chocolate

Layer of fresh cream

Combine Grand Marnier, tequila, and hot chocolate in an Irish coffee (or small wine) glass. Layer 1/2 inch of hand-whipped cream over the top.

The PAMA Kiss
The Pama Kiss

Mix up the PAMA Kiss — you never know, you may just get a kiss in return.

1 1/2 oz. PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur

3/4 oz. sour apple vodka

1/2 oz. cranberry juice

Mix ingredients in martini shaker. Shake well. Serve on the rocks. Garnish with sugar-dusted raspberries.

Mocha Nog Punch
Mocha Nog Punch

10 parts Kahlúa Mocha

5 parts Absolut Vanilla

20 parts eggnog

Combine ingredients and serve in a punchbowl with a floating ice block.

Hint: Freeze ice with coffee beans for decoration.

The French Kiss
The French Kiss

1 oz. Chambord

1 oz. vodka

1 oz. dark crème de cacao

1.5 oz. half and half

Shake ingredients with ice and strain into a cocktail glass.

Cappuccino Up
Cappuccino Up

2 oz. Stoli Vanil

1.5 oz espresso

1.5 oz simple syrup

Shake ingredients together with a small amount of ice. Pour and spoon out foam on top. Sprinkle cinnamon and raw sugar on top and garnish with a graham cracker piece. 

Ginger Drop

Ginger Drop

1 1/2 oz. Bacardi Limón
1 oz. Lillet
Champagne
Fresh ginger

Muddle fresh ginger with Bacardi Limón and Lillet; pour into Champagne glass. Top with Champagne and garnish each glass with a piece of crystallized ginger, which can be purchased at a gourmet store.

Bailey's Spiced Coffee

Baileys Spiced Coffee

2 oz. Baileys with a Hint of Coffee

1 oz. pear-flavored liqueur

 

Layer pear-flavored liqueur first. Then top with Baileys with a Hint of coffee. Garnish with nutmeg and a grind of seasoned pepper, and enjoy.

Wild Apple Pie
Wild Apple Pie

A cocktail that's the perfect complement to your dessert.

Wild Turkey American Honey, neat

Brown sugar or cinnamon and sugar

Apple slice

Wet the rim of a rocks glass, dip in brown sugar or cinnamon and sugar. Pour American Honey into glass and garnish with an apple slice.

French Martini

French Martini

1.5 oz vodka

1/2 oz Chambord

2 oz. pineapple juice

Shake ingredients with ice and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a pineapple wedge or a leaf from the pineapple for a sleek modern look.

Depaz Hottie
Depaz Hottie

1 lb. brown sugar

2 oz. Depaz Cane Syrup

1/4 lb. butter

Pinch of salt

4 oz. fresh apple cider

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Blend the ingredients together and bring to a boil before removing from the heat.

Individual preparation: Using the above cocktail base, select an appropriate mug. Then add:

2 heaping tablespoons of the prepared cocktail base

2 oz. Depaz Blue Cane Amber Rhum

Approximately 6 oz. hot water

Garnish with ground nutmeg and a cinnamon stick.

So Cheers To Keeping All Our Cocktails Classy In Coastal Alabama!!!

Cindy Lou...

Yummy Christmas Biscuits

Yummy Christmas Biscuits

It has been a Christmas Tradition since before I had children, to make Yummy Christmas Biscuits on Christmas Morning.  

I always make enough so we can eat them all Christmas morning,  breakfast for days & snack on them for days.  We just put them in the refrigerator after lunch, and you can even freeze them and take them out as you want.  They are most definitely "Best" if served with Mimosa's - which is also something we do every Christmas Morning, Afternoon, Evening, & Late Night...

They are both Dee-Lish-Us!!!

Yummy Christmas Biscuit Recipe

Yields about 20-30 biscuits. This recipe can be cut in half or doubled.
Ingredients needed:
3 Cups of Bisquick Mix
1 Pack of Jimmy Dean Sausage (any flavor is great)
Shredded Chedder Cheese (how ever much you like)1 cup Milk

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat oven to 450
2. Mix bisquick and milk
3. Roll out half of dough flat (thin or thick as you want) on wax paper
4. Sprinkle uncooked sausage bits and chedder cheese over entire flattened dough
5. Roll the dough up with sausage and cheese in the middle and cut into slices
6. Place slices on cooking pan sprayed lightly with Pam.7. cook 7 -10 minutes or until tops are golden.
8. For the rest of the dough, repeat steps 3-7 for the second batch...

Cindy Lou...

I Wanna Upside-Down Christmas Tree!!!

An upside-down Christmas tree!  Who has ever heard of anything so ridiculous?  I will tell you who - ME, and a old friend of mine Karen.  

Karen's Beautiful Upside-Down Christmas Tree

So last week I stumbled upon Karen's Christmas Tree Picture (I promise I was not facebook creeping on her - it was an accident) and I was mesmerized with it's beauty, and I admit I was just a teeney bit jealous because I want one too.  I complemented her on it's beauty and asked her could I post her tree.  Thank you Karen for allowing me to share your beautiful upside-down Christmas Tree.

A Bit 'Bout The Upside-Down Christmas Tree

Well, you might be surprised to hear that an upside-down Christmas tree is one of the hottest fads of the season.  But that it is actually not so new!

The hanging of fir trees upside down can be traced all the way back to the Middle Ages, when the Europeans did it to represent the Trinity.  But now, Christmas trees are shaped with the tip pointing to Heaven, and some think it is told that some think an upside-down Christmas tree is disrespectful or sacrilegious (certainly not me).

As of recent the trees were introduced to retailers for in-store displays, thus allowing more ornaments to be displayed at the eye level of the purchasing public.  And they also left more floor space to hold other decorations and extra stock.

But the upside-down Christmas trees have caught on, and are being sold to the public as a novelty piece.   Target.com has a version that sells for $399 and comes pre-lit.  And the Hammacher Schlemmer website claims the demand for the upside-down Christmas tree is so high that they have not been able to keep them in stock.

There are several different ways that the upside-down Christmas tree is hung;  Either hung from a bracket on the ceiling like a chandelier, stood upside-down on a stand, or mounted tip-down on the wall.

Although you might not go for this idea in a big way, you might see a few of the benefits.  If you have small children, you can keep most of the ornaments away from little hands.  Cats and dogs won't be racing around and knocking decorations off the base of your upside-down Christmas tree.  

And Just Think How Many More Presents You Will Be Able To Pile Up Under The Tree!!!

This Upside-Down Christmas Tree Is Complete With Spinners At The Top!!!

This Comedian Has His Own Opinion About The Upside-Down Christmas Tree!!!  

I WILL Own An Upside-Down Christmas Tree Next Year!!!

And It Will Be Classy - Like Karen's Tree!!!

Cindy Lou...

Poppa's Christmas Pickle

Poppa's Christmas Pickle & The History Of The Christmas Pickle

Poppa's Christmas Pickle - Our Tree Christmas 2011

We bought our Christmas Pickle in 1992, and before that I had never heard of a Christmas Pickle.  Each year after that we would hang the Christmas Pickle on the Tree on Christmas Eve, and the first person to find it on Christmas Morning got a surprise.  Our Family Story about the Christmas Pickle is nothing like the Traditional Christmas Pickle Story.  Yes, as I earlier stated we did hang it on the tree Christmas Eve and hide it for the sake of celebrating the Traditional History, but not until after it had most likely been one of the first ornaments we put on the tree.   Our pickle was originally bought at the day after Christmas 75% off Christmas Ornament sale at Macy's as a joke at my Poppa's (my dad) expense - which he did not really find all that funny.  You see every once in a while sometimes most every afternoon Poppa liked to have a 'lil nip of Canadian Mist (ewwww), and my mother always referred to it as his "Pickle Juice".  You might be asking why she would call it "Pickle Juice", and if so, here is the answer - Mom always said, "he's pickling his brain with that stuff" and so when he was having a 'lil nip in the afternoon we would call it "Pickle Juice".  And we would say Poppa's gotten into the "Pickle Juice" already.  So every year thereafter we hung the pickle on the tree and would have a great time joking about it the entire month of December - it has given us many Christmas Giggles & Cheer.  Maybe that seems a bit mean, but I promise it was all in good fun.  Although Poppa is not with us any longer - his "Christmas Pickle" is, and that makes our "Christmas Pickle" that much more special.  

Now that you have heard "Poppa's Christmas Pickle Story", I will share the Traditional Christmas Pickle Story:

To start a tradition that surely will last, 

here's a short story about the pickle of glass.

The night before Christmas it's hung on the tree,

while everyone is sleeping it's done secretly.

And on Christmas Morning when you arise,

The first one to find it will get a surprise.

A family tradition for all to share,

You will look for the pickle year after year.

Now Everybody Go And Get Your Christmas Pickle & Hang It On Your Tree.

And Pick Your Tradition, Whichever It May Be....

Poppa's Christmas Pickle

Cindy Lou...