Weekly Menu

Monday - Fettuccine Alfredo, Broccoli and Texas Toast (Mr Toadly Crafty's Pick)
Tuesday - Tacos, Rice & Refried Beans (Missy MayMay's pick)
Wednesday - Chicken Patty Sandwiches, Potato Chips, Carrots/Celery Sticks (Big G's Pick)
Thursday - Ribs, Funeral Potatoes, Green Beans (Little G's pick)
Friday - Breakfast for dinner, Creme Brulee (My pick)

This weeks theme: What are some of your favorite stand by recipes? The tired and true that you know you can go to when you need to get dinner on the table quick?

Cookie Exchange part 1

Each year I host a cookie exchange party. This year will be my 7th year! I must admit there is a bit of selfishness behind the idea....get 10 dozen assorted cookies. It would take me days to accomplish that much variety on my own!

Over the years, my party has become a bit more elaborate then the first year. I have added things like a little party favor and a couple of prizes. I have also refined the "rules of the exchange". But rather than give you information overload, I am going to divide it up into a couple of different posts.

Today's post will cover setting a date, invitations and suggestions on the "rules".

Date
Today, I set the date. (I will actually be hosting two this year. One for the craft group and one for my neighborhood friends.) So to save myself from having to clean my house twice, I am going to do them back to back. I selected December 19th. I selected this date for a reason. This is the last Saturday before Christmas. There for most people will be having get together and parties through the rest of the week and can serve the cookies at these functions or they can save them for Christmas and they will still be fairly fresh.

I know this is a busy day, but the party only usually lasts an hour, at the most. I host it early in the day so as not to conflict with any other evening parties and last minute shopping.

Once I set the date I sent an email to the ladies I plan to invite.

This is the email:
I would like to have a Cookie Exchange party on Dec 19th that is a Saturday @ 1 (please be on time!) I know this is a busy day for most, but the cookie exchange usually goes really quick. If this does not work for the majority of the group I will rethink it.

Here is how it works. In addition to the craft group I am inviting my BFF and my moms BFF. That is 10 cookie makers.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU GET BACK TO ME ASAP IF YOU DON’T PLAN ON PARTICIPATING SO THAT I CAN FIND AN ALTERNATE FOR YOUR SPOT!

Each person makes 10 dozen Christmas cookie/candy/treat (I will define this in a moment) and brings them with them to my house. If you can’t make it that day but still want to participate, drop your cookies early and I will exchange them for you. But please let me know if this is what you will be doing. In addition you will need to bring a large tray, box, tin to place your cookies in as we exchange them. Planning on using the tray you bring the goodies on does not work as that one is full of cookies. (You will be getting back one dozen of your own.)

Cookies: All cookies/candy/treat MUST be homemade, no store bought allowed. Doctoring up a store bought item (IE: dipping pretzels/candy canes in chocolate) does not count. (Do not confuse this with Kiss cookies, M&M cookies and those awesome Reese Peanut cup cookie tart things) All cookies should be completely cooled before they come to the party.

Serving size: Take in to consideration a serving size. When you make that treat how many do you eat in one serving? A large cello bag full of white chocolate popcorn or muddy buddies does not equal one dozen. If you plan on doing an item like white chocolate popcorn or muddy buddies, then a small cello bag would be considered one item (so you would need 9 dozen small cell bags to equal nine dozen cookies) Also consider the size when cutting items into pieces (IE: Brownies, fudge, etc) If you have questions about what a serving size, please ask in advance. Making a dozen sugar cookies is a lot of work and then being handed 12 small chocolate turtles in exchange is very disappointing.

Quantity: I know that 10 dozen may seem like a lot. Please don’t let this be intimidating. It really is not that bad once you start working on it! And the reward is well worth it! In the past we have done 5 dozen and every one got a half dozen of each, but it you think about it that is only 6 cookies, which is only one per each person in most of our families.

Presentation: Arrange your goodie in a cute, unique and/or fun manner. A prize will be awarded for the best!

* No duplicates are allowed. So let me know early what you want to make.
* Please email me a copy of the recipe that you will be making by Dec 14th.
* Wear your Christmas attire, a prize will be awarded!

I know there is a lot to this, but This will be 7th year hosting a cookie exchange and I have learned as I have gone! Please email me your address so that I can get an invitation out to you.

Thanks! Shilo


I know it is alot of words to process, but the more clear and up front on the "rules" I am the better the swap goes.

So on the To Do list today:
* Set a date and Time
* Send an email or a quick phone call to give each potential attendee a heads up.

Invitation
The one consistent thing through each year is my theme, Gingerbread Men. I love the little guys! My kitchen is all deced out in Gingerbread Men any ways so the theme seemed to fit perfectly. I start introducing the theme in the invites. I wish I had saved one from each year, but I only have the past two years. Here is the one from 2007.
Front:


Back:


I have just begun this years, but will post them as soon as I am done. A e-invite would be cute to do, but I like to have a paper copy too. Every invite I send, birthday party, BBQ, etc. I put a magnet on the back so it can go directly on the fridge of the invitee.


"Rules"
Like I said before, the "rules" have evolved a bit.
But basically they include:
* All cookies must be homemade.
* All cookies need to be completely cooled before the party.
* No husbands/kids
* No duplicates (Who wants to go home with 5 dozen pieces of fudge)
* RSVP, ASAP

I am a big stickler on the RSVP. The earlier I know the sooner I can start looking for a substitute if necessary.

I will never forget the year that one lady made 10 dozen beautiful divinity. They were beautiful and tasted heavenly! And knowing how difficult and fussy divinity is, I can only imagine her thoughts when seeing that one of the other swappers had brought a small stick pretzel, not a large rod, dipped in chocolate. Hence the reason I am a bit picky about what a goodie is.

A great sight for other ideas and "rule" suggestions is www.cookieexchange.com

There are lots of variations out there, so look around and decide what works best for you and your friends. But most important have fun, that is what the holidays are all about!


Up coming posts will include
* Refreshments and beverages
* Decor
* Party Favors
* Contests and Prizes

I just can't wait for Christmas!

Look at this cutie! I will post more about it after Thanksgiving, but I wanted to give you a little sneak peak!

Last minute Turkey day ideas...

Just a couple of quick last minute Thanksgiving ideas for you. These are both pretty simple.

This is out Give Thanks journal. I made it two years ago. It is a covered composition note book. Each year, were ever we eat our Thanksgiving meal, we ask those who are with us to write...


or draw...

in the journal.
This year the blank pages

will be filled with Mr Toadly Craft's family, as we will be hosting the family at our house.

This


is a hair barrette that I saw on Etsy and had to have for Missy MayMay. But once again, a shortage of funds got in the way. So I figured out how to do it myself. It turned out so cute, I made one for three of my nieces.


I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Lemon Chicken Recipe

This is an all time favorite of mine! When I was young and we picked our birthday meal, I would always pick this! Now Cory always picks this on his weekly menu pick.

6 boneless skinless chicken breasts
3 cups of cream
6 lemons
4 tbs butter
canned Parmesan cheese (the only time I will condone using the canned stuff!)

Brown chicken breasts in 1 tbs of butter. While chicken is cooking, juice lemons. Added to a 9 x 13 pan (glass works best). Add cream to lemon juice and stir. Add salt and pepper to taste and a few shakes of Parmesan cheese. Stir again. Once juices run clear in the chicken, remove from skillet and place in the lemon juice mixture. Cut up remaining 3 tbs of butter and dot over the chicken. Sprinkle liberally with Parmesan cheese. Bake in 400 degree oven for 30 to 45 minutes, until lemon juice mixture is bubbly and warmed through. Serve with a sauce over the top of the chicken or in a separate cup for dipping.
Enjoy!

Weekly Menu

A Day late but here it is

Monday - Lemon Chicken, Lemon Rice and Green Beans (Mr Toadly Crafty's pick)
Tuesday - Ham hocks & Bean Soup & corn bread(My pick)
Wednesday - Rosie's Pulled Pork Sandwiches & french fries(Lil' G's Pick)
Thursday - Tater Tot Casserole, blueberry muffins and jello (Big G's pick)
Friday - Fry Night (Missy MayMay)

This weeks theme: If you could only ever pick one meal for the rest of your life what would it be?

Thanksgiving Wreath

I loved all the leaf filled wreaths out there, both in blogger world and around my neighborhood. But I wanted something different. I was inspired by a pine cone wreath photo that was sent to me by one of my fellow craft group members. But being on a very tight budget lately with Christmas coming, I decided to improvise.

First the kids and I did a "service project" and picked up a huge bag of pine cones out of the yard of a neighbor (we got permission first)


Jr G said something along the lines of "Are you making us do this for a craft?" and Big G said something like "Yea, and she can't spend more money cause dad will get made at her!" Luckily, MayMay was there to back me up! Then I used my 40% off coupon at my LCS and bought a big, beautiful grapevine wreath only $8!
I used some bright orange, sheer ribbon I had on hand an made a bow. I wired the bow to the wreath.

Then I used my well loved glue gun and began gluing the pinecones on to the wreath. This tool some patience, as the pine cones have to be held in place until the hot glue sets a bit. At first they were all glued flat. But I wanted some depth to it, so I would add a pinecone first,

and use that pine cone as a support to lean other ones against it. It gives the wreath a more layered look.


Once I glued pinecones all the way around the wreath (which it was hard to cover up that beautiful grapevine!)I tucked in a few pieces of wheat. Remember this

garage sale find? I never could fall in love with it. So cut the wheat off of there.

Then Sunday when we went and had big family pictures taken at Mr Toadly Craft's family barn.


Mr Toadly Crafty ran into a buddy who was pheasant hunting. When I saw the beautiful feathers on the pheasant, I made Mr Toadly Crafty ask him for them. He said something about as long as they aren't for some stupid craft.....to which the MR rolled his eyes. He wouldn't give up the tail feathers, I guess those are some big prize for a hunter or something.

I tucked in some silk fall leaves and added a little brown ribbon and

TaDa, it is done!





And Guess what? I still have half a bag of pine cones!!

Weekly Menu

So one of my fav blogs Sisters Stuff posts a weekly menu.

I think it is so fun! There are five of us, me, Mr Toadly Crafty and three Jr Toadly Crafty. On Saturdays we each pick a meal. I then shop for anything I need for it. Then assign it a day and list it on my adorable menu board that I made at one of my crafty days


So each week I will be sharing the menu with all of you!


Monday - Skillet Lasagna , Garlic Toast and Green Beans (Missy MayMay's Choice)

Tuesday - Chicken Broccoli Skillet with Blue Berry Muffins (My pick)

Wednesday - Potato Soup, Bread sticks (Mr. Toadly Crafty's Pick)

Thursday - Turkey Tetrazzini, Cooked Carrots (Little G's pick)

Friday - Peaches & Cream French Toast (Big G's Pick)

If you are noticing a theme this week, its because I made them all pick something new. I handed them a stack of my Favorite cooking magazines, Taste of Home and Simple and Delicious and said it had to be from one of those. Mean, I know but I can honestly only take so many nights of Sloppy Joe's and Tacos.

Hope this inspires you in some way!

Thanksgiving Decor

I must say there really is not much to show. I don't do much decor for Thanksgiving because it is sandwiched in between my two biggest decor holidays, Halloween outside and Christmas inside. But I am slowly building it up. I need to add a wreath to the front door and hope to get to it this weekend.

The silver pumpkins are just cheap pumpkins I bought at the evil W store and then used some silver metallic spray paint on them. The pilgrim people are one of the first things I ever crafted. My SIL and I made a set. I still love them, even if they are a little out dated!

On the front table


are my give thanks blocks from a couple of posts ago. Then a candy dish I got on clearance last year with some M&Ms and silk fall leaves in it. Another pilgrim couple

and a basket with some silk flowers in gold and orange

To give it some height to help fill some of the negative space, I placed the basket on a candlestick holder.

Coming up....Fall Wreath (Hopefully!) and Thanksgiving journal....

Challenge

So one of the blogs I stock, Somewhat Simple hosts a new challenge around a theme each month. I joined last months challenge, de-junking and deep cleaning challenge. I failed at that miserable! So when I saw this one centered around cooking and trying new recipes I decided I might actually be able to do it! I mean I have to cook anyways, and at lease this would be fun!



For this week I choose the Maple Walnut Chicken . I really wanted to do the Banana Sour Cream Cake but with the abundance of candy and sweets in my house I thought I better not add to it.



I omitted the walnuts, because if my kids saw that they would not even consider eating this meal and substituted corn for the spinach because Mr ToadlyCrafty does not eat spinach. But other than I stuck pretty close to the recipe. I have to say I did not like it at all! I made the sauce and tasted it, it was pretty nasty! So I dumped the sauce and made my own with cream, a touch of maple syrup and chicken stock. It was better, but I would not recommend this recipe nor would I make it again.

If your up for the challenge head over to Somewhat Simple and get all the info!

Novemeber is here!

I LOVE Halloween! It is one of my favorite holidays, okay maybe they are all "my favorites" but still it is fun. I must say I am a little grateful this one is over. Yesterday was a really long day!

My ds turned 8, which for us is a big birthday. He was baptized and so we had a big luncheon afterwards.

We also do Halloween really big! A cemetery, fog machine, witch...it is quite the production! But so much fun.


So between the two, I am kind of wiped out.

But as much as I love Halloween...I get excited when it is over because I get to start planning for the holidays. I host a big cookie exchange each year, this year I think I may end up hosting two or three. Stay tuned, I will give you all my plans and ideas on how to host one of these fun parties! And also what has worked in the past and what hasn't. This will be my seventh year doing this. Also I have some fun Christmas countdowns, decor and recipes to share. I also think this year, I am going to let my kids host their first annual Polar Express Party. On top of all that I make my kids and hubby a scrapbook highlighting all the years events. I have given it to them on Christmas in the past, but this year I am going to give it to them on New Years Eve, you know out with the old in with the new. I also make the kids a gift that is just from me, hand made, to them...I have a few ideas tossing around the noggin for that!

But first Thanksgiving. Such a peaceful holiday! Here is a little craft I made with my craft group. It made taking down the Halloween decorations a little easier, because I knew I had this cutie waiting to go up.



The inspiration for this one came from Lindsey at Inspiring Creations .

The rest of the front table is not set up yet. DH has not dragged the Thanksgiving box out of storage yet for me. So hopefully he will and I can get that all set up for you to peek at.

I hope you all had a fun Halloween! Happy crafting!