As We Say Goodbye to 2016...

I want to wish you all...

May your year be full of joy, prosperity, and purpose!

Merry Christmas to All!

I am taking time off over the holiday weekend.  My eBay store is closed, but will re-open on 12-26-16. 

Until then, I wish you all the happiest of holidays.  I am looking forward to a very happy and peaceful few days, doing things I enjoy, being with loved ones I enjoy, and celebrating the holiday free of drama -- what a blessing!

Photos of My Christmas Wreath

I completed my Christmas wreath just a while ago.  

All the materials I used came from one of my favorite stores, the glorious Dollar Tree, with the exception of the ribbon used to hang it.  I had some ribbon from the Dollar Tree, but it was too wide to look good, so I had to improvise on that, using items I had in my ribbon drawer.

I chose the colors of silver and red mostly because by the time I went to pick up the items (and I went in November), the Christmas decor items were pretty well picked over.  

The really fun part of making this was taking some of the items apart and fashioning them to work in ways I needed.  Also, rather than using a wreath form as the base, I just used a Dollar Tree 15-foot garland and left it rolled up, using floral wire in a couple of places to keep it from unrolling.  I don't like using forms, so this was a good alternative for me.

Anyway, here are a couple of photos.  I did not take photos of it hanging on my door because the lighting is so dim in our hallway where I live, and it is so hard to get a good photo.  So you all are seeing it when it was still on my art desk.

Store is Closed for Christmas and Tasty Tuesday Recipe

Christmas Week is Underway

Since it is too late now to reliably expect packages to arrive at their destinations in time for Christmas, and sales are winding down as people prepare for the holidays, I have closed my eBay store until December 27.  I have a lot to get done around my home, and I have been putting off making my Christmas wreath for my front door, so I want to get that done -- will share photos here when it is complete.  My goal is to handle that tomorrow.  Today is devoted to catching up on laundry.  Thursday I need to put together 2 IKEA carts to use for storage in my studio.  They will both have wheels, so they will offer lots of flexibility on placement as needs change.

For Tasty Tuesday, I have a recipe for an easy main dish meal using chicken:  

Chicken Paprika

Ingredients:

2 pounds chicken parts

2 Tablespoons cooking oil or shortening

1 can of condensed cream of chicken soup

1 Tablespoon of lemon juice (try to use juice from an actual lemon rather than bottled lemon juice)

1/2 teaspoon paprika

Instructions:

1)  In skillet, brown chicken in shortening or cooking oil.  Pour off fat.

2)  Stir in remaining ingredients.  

3)  Cover, and cook over low heat until done (roughly 45 minutes).  Make sure to stir occasionally.

4)  Serve over hot cooked noodles or rice.

Optional add-in items (add in when the soup is added):

* 1 cup frozen peas that have been thawed with hot water and drained.

* 1 small can of mushroom pieces and stems.

You can make this as a very basic recipe, or you can add the additional items suggested, or come up with some of your own add-ins.  It's a simple meal, cooked in one pan, and good protein when the family has a lot going on during the holiday preparations.

I hope to be back tomorrow with some photos of my wreath -- I am making it exclusively with items I found at Dollar Tree (one of my favorite places).

Tasty Tuesday and Brrrr....

Happy Tasty Tuesday, All!

It is COLD here today.  When I left the house to mail packages and run errands this morning, it was Two degrees BELOW Zero Fahrenheit.  The cars made little clouds of steam from their exhaust pipes as they traveled down the freeway -- the kind that turns to ice when it hits the pavement.  It was sunny, though, and driving was okay.

At this time of year (just before Christmas), I wish I could hold things in place for a while to keep Christmas from coming and going so soon.  Every year, the whoosh of time goes faster.

Today's recipe is a simple and tasty one, a side dish / salad to accompany most types of meals, fancy or casual.

Broccoli Bacon Cheddar Salad

Ingredients:

3 cups broccoli florets, cut to bite-size

1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1/3 cup raisins, either regular or golden raisins are fine

1/4 cup chopped red onion

8 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled

Dressing Ingredients:

1/2 cup mayonnaise

2 Tbsp. sugar

2 tea spoons lemon juice (from an actual lemon if possible rather than the bottled stuff)

Instructions:

1)  In large bowl, combine broccoli, cheese, raisins, and onion.  

2)  In small bowl, combine dressing ingredients.

3)  Pour dressing over salad and toss gently.

4)  Top salad with cooked crumbled bacon and serve.

I hope you are having a good week and that you are enjoying the season.  Stay warm where ever you are.

A Bunch of Items On Sale for Christmas!

The days until Christmas are counting down fast.  

It feels sort-of like things go slowly and then all of a sudden we are catapulted into the "hurry-up" zone.

The United States Postal Service gives these guidelines for Christmas package delivery (for within the United States Only): 

1)  For First Class packages, the package must be shipped by December 20.  This means the order must be made and paid by the customer by end of day, December 19.

2)  For Priority Mail packages, the package must be shipped by December 21.  This means the order must be made and paid by the customer by end of day, December 20.

The USPS website does not give timing information for International Order Christmas delivery, so I don't know the exact rules on that.  All I can say is if you want items sent Internationally and want the items to arrive by Christmas, I am estimating it would need to ship in the next day or two, but that is only a guess on my part.  Ideally, it would have already been shipped.  But that is ultimately up to the postal service in the United States and those services in the countries through and to which the package must be sent.

I am currently running discounts of up to 20% off the original prices on many, many items in my eBay store.  Offerings include several items that would be lovely (or fun, or both) given as gifts.  Shop from the comfort of your home by stopping in here:  http://stores.ebay.com/abundant-empress .

Here are some photos (along with the actual eBay URLs) of a few of the items that are currently on discount in my store:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Handmade-Pottery-Vase-Signed-by-Artist-Round-Low-Browns-Black-/142156730291?ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Wood-Bird-Figurine-Folk-Art-Style-Green-Red-Farmhouse-Decor-Woodland-Rustic-/142177230429?ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Steampunk-Meets-Old-West-Industrial-Art-Metal-Sculpture-Cowboy-Horse-Western-/142033830705?ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rocking-Bunny-Rabbit-Vintage-Style-Children-Quilt-Whimsical-Playful-Christmas-/141987685643?ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bull-Figurine-Carved-Mesquite-Wood-Agate-Southwest-Western-Taurus-Tan-Gold-Gray-/142039719252?category=

So come on in to the store and look around,  I add new items daily.

And while we prepare for the fast-approaching holidays, I hope you will find peace and calm and joy in your midst.  

A Saintly Day, Tasty Tuesday, and Baby, It's Cold Outside!

Greetings Everyone, and Happy Saint Nicholas Day!

Saint Nicholas Day is celebrated in Europe (most especially in Germany), and it is the day when the beloved saint rides on his white horse into the towns and villages to leave gifts and treats in the shoes of the children who have been good during the past year.  To those children who were not so good, he leaves a lump or two of coal.  I am guessing, though, that the ratio of coal given is quite low to the amount of happy gifts given.

And it is Tasty Tuesday Today!

As I am still focusing on holiday preparations and general busyness, I am sharing a recipe for a meal that is simple and satisfying and does not take long to prepare.  It is an excellent winter meal, great comfort food.  It is not so much a health food, though you can modify it by adding foods with additional nutritional value.  I actually do this myself.  I will let you know what I add to this recipe at the end of the Ingredients list.

Sausage and Potato Casserole (or Hotdish as we say in Minnesota)

Ingredients:

1 pound bulk pork sausage or ground pork

1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup (do not add water)

3/4 cup milk

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/2 tsp, salt

1/4 tsp. black pepper

3 cups sliced potatoes

1/2 Tbsp. butter, cut into small pieces

1 and 1/2 cups (6 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese

What I add to this (optional): 

1/2 cup carrots, sliced thin or chopped small and sauteed in butter for about 2 minutes.

1/2 cup celery, chopped small and sauteed in butter for about 2 minutes (can do this with the carrots).

1/2 can of whole kernel corn, drained, OR 1/2 cup of frozen whole kernel corn, thawed and drained.

If you do add extra ingredients, you may want to add a bit more milk for moistness (it's up to you).

Instructions:

1)  Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.  

2)  Spray 1 and 1/2- quart casserole with non-stick cooking spray.  Use 2-quart casserole if you are adding the optional ingredients listed above in addition to the regular ingredients.

3)  Brown sausage or ground pork in large skillet over medium-high heat, stirring to separate meat into small chunks.  Brown meat until no longer pink.  Drain fat.

4)  Stir together soup, milk, onion, salt, and pepper in mixing bowl (if you are adding in additional ingredients, add them to the bowl as well).

5)  Place half of potatoes in prepared casserole dish.  Top with half of soup mixture and half of sausage or ground pork.  Repeat layers, ending with sausage.

6) Dot with butter.

7)  Cover casserole with tin foil.  Bake 1 and 1/4 to 1 and 1/2 hours until potatoes are tender.  

8)  Uncover; sprinkle with cheese.  Bake until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Makes 6 servings.

I hope you enjoy this casserole meal.  It is perfect on a cold, blustery day.

And speaking of, Old Man Winter blew in today like a shock.  I know I should have been more than ready for it since I am in Minnesota, and Winter is what we do.  Still, the first big blast of cold wind sends the shivers to the bone.  I confess that on days like this it can be hard to keep my energy up; all I want to do is wear jammies, snuggle under the covers, and read a book.  But the cats are the ones who get to do that, except for the book part.