Delectable Tuesday Blog Hop 4/19 - Easter Glazed Ham

Happy Easter! or maybe it's Merry Christmas since I woke up this morning to this...

I'm feeling holiday confusion!

Since the calendar says it's almost Easter I'll go with that and share a great Easter ham recipe. My mouth is watering just thinking of the ham. I love ham!! It's probably my favorite meat and I could eat it all the time, but I don't. I only make it once in awhile.

I wonder if I'd like it as much if I ate it more often?

Anyway, enjoy and happy egg hunting!


Easter Glazed Ham

1 (5 pound) fully cooked sliced ham
1/4 cup whole cloves
1 cup pineapple juice
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup honey
2 oranges, juiced
Sliced pineapple rings (optional)

Preheat the oven to 350*. Place the ham in a roasting pan and dot with cloves. In a saucepan combine the pineapple juice, brown sugar, honey and orange juice. Stir and simmer over medium-low heat until thickened, about 10 minutes. Pour the glaze over the ham. Top with pineapple rings if desired. Bake the ham uncovered for 1 hour.


For more great recipes visit Hearth and Soul, Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays, Tasty Tuesdays, What's Cooking Wednesday and Tuesdays at the Table.





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How Did You Spend Your New Year's Weekend?

After the ball dropped and the parties ended, how did you spend the first weekend of the new year?

The kids spent new year's eve at Grandma's so the hubby and I got the house to ourselves. (Never, ever happens!) The problem was I was awake 3 hours earlier than usual. I think it was because the house sounds were different. Whatever the reason it was seriously annoying. The one morning I could have slept in!

Because I was up so early I ended up getting the kids back from the grandparents early. They didn't mind though because we had big plans for the day.

We stayed home and had a monopoly tournament! I put some munchies in crockpots along with veggies and fruits to snack on and we spent the day playing the never ending real estate game.


The game went on for awhile and we snacked on BBQ smokies and my Mexican dip. I lost.... I was so sad. Oh well.

Sunday was just as quiet here. The kids got control of the DVD player and we watched many, many episodes of Star Trek Voyager (we love Sci-fi!). The girls worked on crafts and such while they watched and I spent the entire day knitting.

It was so wonderful to just relax with no plans and nothing that needed done right then. I got so much knitting done that my Blizzard Mitts are nearly complete and I'm getting ready to have the pattern test knit. I'd love to have this pattern available in our Etsy shop before it gets too warm for them. :o)

Sunday night I also realized that the phone never rang even once all weekend. I wish we could have weekend like that more often.

Happy New Year!!

Wordless Wednesday - Merry Christmas

Happy Thanksgiving!

T Minus 3 Days and Counting

Are you ready for Thanksgiving? Are you ready to prepare that lavish feast for all your family to enjoy?

I am, but please don't hate me. I do this every year and I've got a routine going now that works for me. Maybe it'll help you too.

I went grocery shopping last week. I made an extensive list based on each dish I was to prepare and then kind of smooshed it together. For example, I need so much cream cheese for this dish and so much cream cheese for that dish so on my list I've combined them for a grand total of cream cheese needed.

I thought I'd made it through the store without forgetting anything, but it turned out that I had forgotten the potatoes. How?? I have no idea, but I ended up needing to go back to town for something else anyway so I got the potatoes.

Over the weekend I got the turkeys thawing (yes that really is plural) and plugged in my cooler/fridge. It's one of those coolers that plug into a car, but I have an adapter that allows it to plug into the house. Makes a great back up fridge when the holidays come around. All the non-holiday items go into it.

The schedule for the rest of the week looks like this. I've found that if I just spread the work out over a few days it's not bad.

Today (Monday) I will spend catching up on laundry and dishes.

Tuesday I will clean house. It is so much easier to get the house clean now and just have the kids do a quick pickup and run the vaccuum Thursday morning before people show up.

Wednesday will be baking day. All the desserts can be made ahead of time and then placed in the now mostly empty fridge for the big day.

Wednesday night I get the turkey roasters, utensils, stuffing ingredients and any else I need for that early morning turkey cooking and place them on the counter (or fridge). That way I am not searching for things at the last minute.

Thursday morning comes way too early, but I get up and with the help of the hubby, we get the turkey in the oven and get on with the day. I am sooo not a morning person.

I spend the next bit of time rearranging furniture, getting out the tables and finding all the silverware.

At some point in the morning I also make the mashed potatoes. Did you know that mashed potatoes keep really well in a slow cooker until it's time to eat? They'll keep up to about 4 hours or so.

With the mashed potatoes already made, the tables set and the turkey cooking, I'm left with only heating the veggies and making the gravy at dinner time. These are both simple things and means that I'm not spending the entire time in the kitchen while guest are arriving.

So how to your prep for Thanksgiving?

4-H Veterans Day Project

We planned this service project months ago so it was just a happy coincidence that this month's meeting fell on Veteran's Day.

With the holidays fast approaching, the kids voted on making cards for veterans and servicemen. I've never seen them so quiet and work so hard. Normally the younger ones are begging to play, but instead they were all working really hard. Some of them are just cute hand drawn pictures, while the older kids made some really nice cards.

Recipe of the Week -- Nearly Crustless Pumpkin Pie

Okay, it's not really crustless or anything, but how would you like a pie from scratch that you didn't have to roll out a crust? I'll get back to that.

When I think of Thanksgiving I always think of pumpkin pie first. Since I was little, I always tried to snitch a piece before the meal. I don't remember ever succeeding, but I did try. And I would always save room at dinner to make sure I could shovel in the pumpkin pie.

When I went out into the world on my own, I knew I had to learn how to make one. I've never been big on store bought crusts, but at that point in my life I wasn't so good at making my own. Then I stumbled across this amazingly simple crust for my pumpkin pie. (I've never tried it on any other pie so I'm not sure if it would work on anything else)

It's a pie crust that you just press into the pan. Similar to a graham cracker I guess, but without all the crumbs. It won't give you one of those picture perfect pies with pretty fluted pie crust edges, but it will taste spectacular and you can tell everyone you made it from scratch!



Pumpkin Pie

Crust:
1 1/3 cups flour
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tbls. cold water

Mix flour, oil and salt with a fork until flour is moistened. Add cold water slowly until all is absorbed. Press dough into 10" pie pan. (Your fingers work great for this, but I have also used a flat bottomed glass to get an even crust)

Pie:
2 eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/8 tsp. ground cloves
1 can (16 oz.) 100% pure pumpkin
1 can (12 oz.) evaporated milk

Beat eggs in a large bowl. Beat in remaining ingredients until blended. Pour filling into crust. Bake 15 minutes at 450*. Reduce temp (without opening oven!) and bake for an additional 45 minutes. Let cool before serving.


For more great recipes visit Two For Tuesday, Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays, Tasty Tuesdays, What's Cooking Wednesday and Tuesdays at the Table.

A Thanksgiving Craft and Giveaway

Thanks to Scotch(R) Double Sided Tape for sponsoring my writing about crafts. Add your comment below to be entered for a chance to win free sample rolls to help with your upcoming holiday needs.

I can't believe it's November already! Where has 2010 gone? It's all good though because that means Thanksgiving is almost here!!

I love Thanksgiving. It has to be my absolute most favorite holiday. I think maybe because it centers around food and we all know I love food! I also have a great time decorating the table with lots of crafty things.

Making Thanksgiving crafts to decorate the table is a great way to get the kids involved. Normally I have them making hand turkeys and fall leaves out of construction paper, but this year I came across something a little different.

How about a cute napkin ring that doubles as a great conversation starter and a trip down memory lane. You could actually make these for any holiday or family get together, but they seem especially appropriate for Thanksgiving celebrations.

Do you have old family pictures around your house? Do you maybe have a box of them tucked away where no one has seen them in years? Have your kids ever seen what grandma looked like back in the day?

How about making Photo Napkin Rings!


Instructions:

Gather up some digital images of old photos or scan the old photos into the computer. Print each photo in the desired size (2 inches works great) and trim it into a square, then use double-sided tape or glue it to scrapbook paper and trim the paper to leave a 1/4-inch border on all sides.

Cut a paper strip (1 3/4 by 8 inches) and tape the ends together making a ring shape. Use tape to attach the mounted photo to the ring. Insert a napkin into the ring and viola! You now have a great conversation starter for you meal.


Now the really fun part!! How would you like to win your own Scotch brand double sided tape? Two (2) lucky winners will each receive 5 rolls of Scotch Double Sided tape provided by 3M.

Here's the rules:

GIVEAWAY~ Two lucky readers will each win five (5) rolls of Scotch brand Double Sided tape provided by 3M.

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Leave a comment on this blog post telling us what fun and great uses you have for Scotch tape.
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Giveaway will end November 7, 2010 at 11:59p.m. EST. Open to US residents, 18 years or older. Winner will be chosen using Random.org, notified by email, and will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.

Please learn more about Scotch(R) Double Sided Tape and other Scotch(R) Products, and join the conversation on the Scotch(R) Brand Facebook Page and via Twitter. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

Halloween Highlights 2010

What a great night! It was chilly, but calm and sunny. I'll gladly take the chill during trick or treating if it doesn't come with rain or that evil white stuff.

It was weirdly not that busy, crowded or whatever you want to call it. There were families out, but I've seen it far busier. Maybe because it was a Sunday?

Happy 4th of July!

Happy Independence Day!!!


Have a safe and happy holiday! As for me....I'm off to visit the sales at the fabric store. :o)

A Montague Christmas

A special treat for all the family that couldn't make it to the annual Montague Christmas get-together.

Wow, there were a lot of us and if I count right, I think that was really only about half the grandkids. We are multiplying fast. :o)

I'm going to try and list everyone that made it, by family. If I missed you I am so sorry. And if I spelled your name wrong, again, I'm sorry.

Jon & Debbie - Joel, Dee and William. Jesse.

David & Maryanne - Brian

Jerry & Darla - Shannon w/Brett and his 3 kids, Abby and Miah, Amanda and London

Tom & Jaynan - Chris, Gretchen and Hayley

Karen & Dan - Stephani, Jim, Elizabeth, Micaela and Nicholas. Kristi, Brad, Kaitlyn, Eli and Mason


Doesn't seem like so many when I right it down. That house was really packed last night.

Here are some of the highlights:

Some of the womenfolk getting the food around


While the menfolk stood around talking.


Everyone gathering to pray for the meal.


Standing in line for the enormous amount of food. All good of course.


The kids table.


Sitting around.


The pile for the gift exchange. Sorry folks, no real craziness here. Very little gift taking and no goofy antics by Tom or Jerry. Please do better next year. :o)
Dave also insists that at least one present must contain a sizable amount of chocolate, please.


What is Christmas without Santa?


Passing out presents for G&G.


G&G opening their gifts.


This present brought tears to their eyes. I believe it was from Dave & Maryanne.


A picture of the gift that brought the tears.

And here is a special gift. A video of Grandpa reading the Christmas story. It's short only because I didn't want it too big to upload here.

Oh...my favorite pic. These cupcakes were sooo cute. Almost too cute too eat.

Merry Christmas!!

Recipe of the week -- Christmas Cheese Ball

I'm back! So sorry to have missed last week's recipe and now I'm a day late with this one. Between getting ready for Christmas and getting sick, it's been a crazy time. Just finished my niece's present and wrapped it, so I thought I could take a break for a minute and share one of my favorite holiday recipes.

This is one of those recipes that before you know it, the plate is empty and everyone is screaming for more. In fact, I have only one picture of the ball and it's half eaten in it. I set the plate down, went for the camera, and this is what it looked like when I got back. That's how fast it seems to disappear.

I suppose you could use it anytime of the year, but it looks so festive in it's green and red colors.


Christmas Cheese Ball

1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
2 green onions (greens only), chopped
1 jar (2 oz.) diced pimientos, drained
2 tbls. butter
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese until fluffy. Beat in cheddar cheese, onions, pimientos, butter and Worcestershire sauce.

Line a small bowl with plastic wrap. Press cheese mixture into bowl; smooth top. Cover and refrigerate until serving. (Best chilled at least 2 hours). Serve with crackers.

The Thanksgiving weekend......so far

Our Thanksgiving weekend got off to an early start with a very interesting email Tuesday morning. Before I'd even woke up enough to get dressed, I received an email from the farm we bought our very first alpacas from. I had expressed interest in a female they had way back in the spring. We talked a little, but it never got to the buying stage. Well, in this email they offered her to us at a price that was easy to live with. Let's just say, I said yes before I even talked to Jim.

We went and picked her up Wednesday afternoon. She's a beautiful brown suri and her name is Wella (short for Welcome Home). I finally was able to get one pic of her this morning as the snow started clearing. She seems to have settled in fine and is making new friends with her pasture mates.

Thanksgiving day had me getting up earlier than I like to get the turkey in the oven. We got it stuffed and in by 8. Then it was off to do chores. While outside, my sister called to say they weren't going to make it. Both she and my niece were sick. It turned into a weird, quiet, unholiday-like day with only us and my parents. See, my other sister lives in Illinois and wasn't able to make it either. By the end of the day we did have some of our older kids pop in and out so it wasn't completely a wash. 7 kids out of 8 on one day is nearly a record. :o)

We went to bed early because poor Jim had to be at work by 5:30 to deal with the crazy crowds and me, well.....for the first time in 4 years I went out on Black Friday. All because of my niece. I went to one store for her present and then back home. It really wasn't that bad, but I avoided the entire mall, wal-mart, best buy area of town. Where I was going was the complete opposite of all that so it wasn't bad. I think there were about 15 people waiting in line at this store.

Now I'm home, baking bread, getting lunch around and really wishing I could take a nap. Maybe after lunch....