celebrating Christmas Eve at my parents' new house!

And the are officially South Carolina residents now:)


We enjoyed a golf cart ride and a hike on their beautiful woodland trails!


believe it or not, contrary to what the puddles may suggest, it really wasn't raining.  They are sporting the umbrellas as a fashion statement.  Speaking of fashion, the girls accused grandma of wearing  an ugly Christmas sweater.  Grandma stopped about four people on the trail to see if they agreed that her sweater was indeed an ugly Christmas sweater.  The first three happened to be men...who immediately said no, and that the sweater is quite lovely (ok, that's not really what they said:)  However, I pointed out to my mom that they are men....most likely married men who are quite conditioned to NEVER respond in the negative response to a woman questioning of something is pretty, or makes her look fat;)   And then my mom's fourth person was a woman....she immediately responded that it is an ugly sweater....but these days an "ugly sweater" actually means a pretty sweater.

And Grandma Judy won:)

and of course no Christmas is complete without puppy pictures

lots and lots of puppy pictures:)

ok, we let the girls be in some:)




the star on their tree is going, per my parents.  (I agree with their decision;)

it's a challenge to get two kids and two fur kids to cooperate at the same time:)   Thus the unfocused photo:)





That night we came home and the girls and J baked up a yummy batch of Grandma Jeanne's infamous cutout cookies.
 
and I've had WAY more than my fair share....ughhhhh



Merry Christmas to All, and to All a GOOD night!

Happy 48 Years of Marriage to My Parents!

surprise headed in the mail for a special little girl

https://www.etsy.com/shop/DFInspirations

Seitan Stew with Red Wine, Mushrooms & Root Vegetables

Rich and delicious, this un-beef stew should satisfy anyone's palate and it is definitely worth the time you put into it.

Author: Ordinary Vegan

Recipe type: Main

Serves: 3

Ingredients

• 1½ teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 teaspoons vegan butter
• ½ cup flour
• 1 8 ounce package of cubed seitan
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 cups of good quality dry red wine
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 5 fresh thyme sprigs
• ½ orange, zest removed in 3 (1-inch strips)
• ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
• 2 bay leaves
• 4 cups vegetable broth
• 4-5 small new potatoes, cut into quarters
• 2 carrots, sliced
• 2 cups frozen pearl onions
• 8 ounces white mushrooms, cut in half
• Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
• Horseradish Sour cream, for garnish (recipe below)

Instructions

1. Preheat a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat with the oil and butter.
2. While the pan is heating, in a bowl toss the cubed seitan with the flour, seasoned with some salt and pepper. Shake off the excess flour and add the seitan cubes in a single layer to the Dutch oven. Brown the cubes on all sides. Once browned, remove the meat and reserve.
3. Add the wine to the pan and bring up to a simmer. Once the wine is bubbling, add the seitan, thyme, garlic, orange zest, ground cloves, ¼ tsp ground pepper and ¼ tsp salt.
4. Bring the mixture to a boil and then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook uncovered until the liquids start to thicken and reduce, about 10 minutes.
5. Add the veggie stock, potatoes, carrots, onions and mushrooms, along with a pinch of sugar and turn up the heat until bubbling. Lower the heat and simmer, uncovered for about 30 minutes or more, until the vegetables are tender.
6. Remove thyme sprigs and bay leaves, taste and adjust seasonings.
7. To serve, place the stew in a soup bowl, garnish with chopped parsley and add a dollop of horseradish sour cream. Serve with crusty bread to mop up the juices.
8. *I like to stir my horseradish sour cream into the soup. 

Horseradish Sour Cream

 

Print

Prep time

5 mins

Total time

5 mins

 

Author: Ordinary Vegan

Serves: 4

Ingredients

• ¼ cup vegan sour cream
• 1 teaspoon prepared horseradish (use less or more depending on the heat you like)
• salt and pepper

Instructions

1. Combine sour cream, prepared horseradish in a small bowl and mix until combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
2. Delicious dolloped on soup with chopped chives. 

http://www.ordinaryvegan.net/veganbeefstew/

Fairy girl makes Christmas biscotti

it is DEEEE lish!

  

***Steep in the beauty of each moment***

As parents, we have this beautiful opportunity to truly celebrate our children's rites of passage. I'm doing my best, as a mom, a homeschooling mom who's almost always with her children (where it can be very easy to miss what's right in front of us, you know, because they are always right in front of us;)....to step back, observe, and steep into these beautiful moments...not just the obvious ones, but the little everyday, seemingly ordinary moments...they really wind up being the most precious moments. These golden moments, like childhood, are precious...and fleeting. Today was an obvious rite de passage, when my sweet Fairy Girl got her ears pierced (second attempt...two years ago she thought she was ready, but wasn't)....but the truth of the matter is...each of my girls went through this rite de passage (in this case, piercing of ears), not just with mom, but with Grandma! That must be part of why Fairy Girl wasn't ready two years ago, Grandma wasn't there! I know this is a special memory each of my girls will carry through life with them. I'm eternally grateful that I get to celebrate so many everyday special moments with my girls....it's amazing how one day you're holding your babies, and in the blink of an eye, 9 and 10 years have literally flown by!
(photos below of Fairy Girl 2005 at 3 months, in WI...and 2013 8 yrs old, in SC...when we moved to SC when she was four...and she's now lived longer in SC than she has in WI...time does fly )

***Steep in the beauty of each moment***

 

First Friday Fun Day with Grandma....AND Fairy Girl got her ears pierced!!!!!!!

 
 

Slowcooker Meatloaf

Slow Cooker Size: 5 to 7 quart

Total prep & cook time: 4 hrs

4 - 6 Servings

Nutrition Data, 327g Serving: 426 cal, 57g carb, 13g fat, 598mg sodium, 8g fiber, 26g protein, 14g sugars, low Cholesterol, Saturated fat. Good source Vit. K., Calcium, Manganese. Estimated glycemic load 27

Ingredients:

    2 tsp. olive oil, plus more for drizzling

    1 small yellow onion, minced

    2 garlic cloves, minced

    1 Tblsp. dried thyme

    1 1/2 cups cooked pinto beans or 1 15 oz. can beans, rinsed and drained

    12 oz extra-firm tofu, drained, squeezed, and crumbled

    3/4 cup ketchup

    2 Tblsp. vegan Worcestershire sauce or soy sauce

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    1 Tblsp. Dijon mustard

    1/2 cup ground walnuts

    1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats

    1/4 cup dried bread crumbs

    1/2 cup vital wheat gluten

    Gluten Free Option: 1/2 cup chick pea flour or potato flour

    2 Tblsp. tapioca starch

    2 Tblsp. minced fresh flat-leaf parsley

    Salt and freshly ground black pepper

    2 large carrots, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch slices

    2 or 3 Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch slices

    2 or 3 shallots, quartered lengthwise

    2 Tblsp. yellow or brown mustard

    1 Tblsp. light brown sugar

    1 Tblsp. cider vinegar

Directions:

    For the best flavor, heat the 2 tsp. or oil in a small skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes

    Add the garlic and thyme and cook 1 minute longer. Alternatively, combine these ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl, cover, and microwave for 3 minutes. Set aside

    In a food processor, combine the beans, tofu, 1/2 cup of the ketchup, Worcestershire, mustard, and the reserve onion mixture and process to mix well

    In a large bowl, combine the walnuts, oats, bread crumbs, vital wheat gluten, tapioca starch, and parsley. Season with 1 tsp. salt and 1/4 tsp. pepper

    Add the bean mixture and stir well to mix thoroughly

    Turn out the mixture onto a wok surface and shape into a round or oval to fit inside your slow cooker, pressing to make sure the loaf holds together

    Generously oil the insert of the slow cooker or spray it with nonstick cooking spray

    Arrange the carrot slices evenly in the bottom of the cooker. Season with a little salt and pepper, then arrange the potato slices on top of the carrots. Drizzle with a little olive oil

    Set the reserved loaf on top of the potatoes and surround with the shallots

    In a small bowl, combine the remaining 1/4 cup ketchup with the mustard, brown sugar, and vinegar and mix well. Spread the mixture on top of the loaf. Cover and cook on Low for 4 hours

    Remove the lid, turn of the cooker, and allow the loaf to rest for 10 minutes. Transfer the loaf carefully with a large spatula to a large serving platter and surround it with the carrots, potatoes, and shallots. Slice the loaf carefully with a serrated knife.

fairy girl's art project for parts and life cycle of flowers

TBT

LOVE living in a land that is colorful year-round

grandma and grandpa are here now!!!!

which means, the girls get to go visit and hang out with them (ahem, I get a few breaks, haha;)
But it's win win for all....(ok, maybe not the Packers today :/)
There was pizza and dessert....apparently with crushed peppermint candies, and brownies, and icecream, and chocolate sauce involved!!
Maybe I should have gone with them :D