Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Gifts for Friends

These are the gift baskets of mugs/coffee flavoring, that I gave the girls at our Christmas lunch on this past Monday.

and this was the card I made to go with it!

Our tree with gifts for family

These are gifts for our family and friends, all wrapped up in silver paper with a beautiful pattern embossed with glitter!!! So very nice...

Shortbread Cookies

My freind Christine over at DOL CREATIONS posted a recipe for shortbread cookies, so my daughter and I though we would give it a try.

Gingerbread houses! 2011

In the past my children have built one gingerbread house and each decorated a side.

This year I decided to get two houses for them.

Here is what the came up with.

Kids Christmas Party 2011

2011 Christmas Cards

Kelli's Pepper Jelly

This is the first year I made pepper Jelly but it won't be the last, everyone loves it!

I made regular and sugar free.  If you replace the sugar equally for splenda it tastes amazing but does not turn into a jelly, more of a very thick liquid.

Kelli's Pepper Jelly

1 1/2 cups sweet red peppers put thru food processor to basically liquefy

1 1/2 cups vinegar

6 1/2 cups sugar (or Splenda for sugar free)

3 ounces liquid pectin

In a large pot combine peppers, vinegar, sugar (or Splenda) and bring to a boil, cook for 6 minutes, stirring constantly. Stir in liquid pectin and continue to boil for 3 more minutes, stirring constantly.  Skim off foam and remove from heat.  Ladle jelly into sterilized jars, leaving a 1/2 inch of head space. Seal and boil in pickling pot for 5 minutes.

Bar for our Christmas Party 2011 and Reindeer Beer!

Kelli's Salsa

Kelli's Salsa

4 cups peeled chopped tomatoes

2 cups seeded, chopped long green Chile's

1/2 cup seeded, chopped jalapeno peppers

3/4 cup chopped onions

3 cloves garlic, finely chopped

2 cups vinegar

1 tsp ground cumin

1 tbsp oregano

1 tbsp fresh cilantro

1 1/2 tsp salt

Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan and bring the mixture to a boil, stirring frequently.  Reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Ladle hot into sterilized jars, leaving 1/2 inch of head space. Boil in canning pot for 15 minutes.

Festive food for our Kids Christmas Party 2011

Yellow pepper star,

cheese cubes

fresh rosemary

cherry tomatoes

layor on parchment paper lined cookie sheet

mini pretzle

hershy kiss

put in 170 degree ferinhite over for about 7 minutes til chocolate is soft.

top with a smartie

put in fridge to set

Kelli's Bread and Butter pickles

These are my mothers favorite, she likes them cut paper thin, but this year my food processor was broken, everything us cut by hand, sorry mom they are no paper thin this year......I just realized my pickling was cursed this year....broken food processor.....22 jars of spoiled dills....wow never made that connection until right now....

Kelli's Bread and Butter Pickles

4 quarts sliced cucumbers

6 white medium onions peeled and cut in thin slices

1/3 cup coarse salt

Do not pare cucumbers, just wash them and cut them in thin slices. I use a crock for these, while preparing. Mix cucumbers, onion and add salt. cover with ice. Let set overnight (I put in the fridge). You may have to add More ice.  You want them to stay very cold. When ready to prepare, rinse them very well.

Syrup:

3 cups of sugar

1 1/2 tsp of turmeric

1 1/2 tsp of celery seed

2 tbsp mustard seed

3 cup white vinegar

Combine syrup ingredients in pot and bring to a boil. When sugar is dissolved, add cucumbers. heat to boiling. Pack into hot, sterilized jars. Remove air bubbles. Boil in large pickling pot for 10 minutes.

Kelli's Dill Pickles

Well this is the book were all my secrets are!

Recipes that is!

I started pickling about 20 years ago and believe me I don't feel near old enough to have been pickling for 20 years...really!

And that being said I had my first catastrophe this year.....22 bottle of my dill's (the most asked for pickle among my friends and family) spoiled and I don't know why, I has never happened to me before.  So I am sorry to say that my family who generally each get a case of pickles at Christmas, won't be getting a full case.....and I am so sorry....you will also be getting a small store bought gift....there is always next year....you still get a couple of bottles.

Kelli's Dills

1. Prepare the brine:

1 cup pickling salt

40 oz vinegar

100 oz water

Heat until salt dissolves just before the boiling point.

2. Put into each sterilized Jar's

2 large cloves of garlic

1 branch of dill weed including flower

1 tbsp of pickling spice

Fill Jar with baby cucumbers

Fill jar with brine leaving 1/2 inch of space at the top empty

Seal jars and boil for 10 minutes in large pickling pot.

Ready in about 6 weeks, but the longer they sit the better they are!

2011 Family Portraits

My dear friend Karen is getting into photography and my family did the photo soot with her!  I was sooooooooo happy with how the photos turned out, this one in front of St. Georges Church is my favorite.

http://kwilsonphotography.blogspot.com/

If you live in our area give her a call, you won't be disappointed.

I am going to frame this one diferently but this frame will do for now...its a little plain for this photo I think.

Gift Wrapping with my Cricut and Art of Philosphy Cartridge

I wanted some cut boxes to wrap gifts for some of my favorite girls...

I used my Close to My Heart "Art of Philosophy Cartridge" for the Cricut to cut these adorable boxes.

I cut the box in plain black cardstock first.

Then cut it again with the glittered wrapping paper I am using this Christmas.

Glued the two layers together and had this great little package.

Its a Red and Black Christmas In My House!! The wrapping....started..

This is the beginning of the wrapping!  It is a little tricky because of the embossed black glitter, the tape won't stick....I am going to have to get creative...I am thinking glue gun...stay tuned for the finished decorated packages in a few days....

Its a Red and Black Christmas In My House!! The wrapping....

The gifts will be wrapped in the love glitteredd paper....I am so excited....watch in the days to follow for the fully decorated versions.....I wrap one day and decorate on another day......

Even though my Daughter Makayla is 12 and fully understands the fantasy's of Christmas and my son Cameron is 10...well he is just to scared still to admit he understands.....Santa still has his own wrapping paper....this year I suggested this black and red one to him...I hope the elves use it!!

I guess my Christmas morning pictures will let us know....

Snowman Card

I was in desperate need of a craft fix last night so I locked myselft away in my scrapbooking room and this is what I came up with

Its a Red and Black Christmas In My House!! The Banister etc.

This banister looks much better in person...it does not look so skimpy along the rail...oh well pictures don't always do thing the justice they deserve.  By this point in the decorating Makayla was much more open to my ideas although again she was skeptical of the black boa until the wreath was done and hung.

In the center there is a Waterford crystal ornament that I have had for many years, it was a gift.

This a a favorite Chritmas piece that fit just lovely in my theme.