Quick Thanksgiving Banner

I know many of you are already decorating for Christmas, but if you are looking for a last minute simple, easy way to add to your Thanksgiving decorations here is a cute "Give Thanks" banner to make. Here's how to make it:
Punch out 16 circles from fall colored printed scrapbook paper (these are 1 1/2" in diameter) and 16 circles from coordinating plain paper (these are 2" in diameter and are a tan color). Cut out letters from tan  plain paper.  Glue the patterned circles to the plain circles.  Then glue the letters on top of the two attached circles.  Glue the circled words (mine says "GIVE THANKS") to a ribbon the length you want, leaving two circles at the beginning, two at the end and two between the words.  Then this banner is placed on top of the burlap one which reads ENJOY and held in place with tiny clothespins.  The banner could very easily be used by itself too.  It is a fast project and one children could do.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY... November 23. 2000

Outside my window...Freshly fallen snow from last night.  The forecast had been for rain so I was surprised when I saw snow when I went to bed.  It is beautiful, of course.
 
I am thinking... what a miracle my friend is, having survived breast cancer radiation, two bouts with pneumonia and a brain infection that put her in the hospital for 4 months--all in this last year.  I visited her yesterday and was glad to see her almost back to her normal wonderful self.  It took a lot of faith and patience to get where she is today and a major miracle!  No one can tell me that God doesn't hear our prayers.

I am thankful for...the blessing of living on this beautiful earth and all the people who influence my life for good.
I am wearing...black corduroy pants, charcoal T and gray wool vest with my friend's pewter creche necklace.  I want to make one like it so she lent me her's to help me do that.

I am going... to have lab work done this morning for a physical that is scheduled soon and then it's off to the dentist.  I hope I have a good bill of health for both of them.

I am reading... The Pioneer Woman Cooks  and Blissful Blogging that I received from my daughter last week. Lots of great photography and good hearty food in the cookbook and her fun humor comes through too.
I am hoping...  to pick up And there was Light by Jacque Lissarian from the library today and get it read in this next week before our book club meets the week after Thanksgiving.  Wish me luck!

On my mind... thinking of my grandchildren who will come this week and fill the house with laughter and love. 
From the art studio....  Lots of Christmas sewing by my granddaughters and me-sh-shush Christmas presents so I can't say exactly what they are.  Also some crafts going on there also.  I am making the glass jars filled with Hot Tamales for lunch favors later in December.  Also making ribbons from leftover fabrics.


Noticing that...I will need to get a few more things in the house ready for my Thanksgiving company.

Pondering these words..."It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas"

From the kitchen... darling little maple acorn muffins from my new muffin tin I got in the mail last week.

Around the house...I was pleasantly surprised by 5 little notes on my pillow from my grandchildren.  It was such a heart-warming time when I read them.

Picture image to share

To read more day books click here.

Foodie Friday-Chicken or Turkey Crepes

Today's recipe is Chicken Crepes and is a good one for that leftover Turkey that we will be having next week. I just substituted turkey for the chicken called it for. The recipe is from a local restruant , The Lion House,  that is known for it's wonderful food.  Crepes are easy to make, they just take patience and time.  You can make them ahead and refrigerate them well covered.  Just let them return to room temperature before using for best results.

Crepes

3 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup water
3 T. melted butter
3/4 cup flour
1/2 t. salt
Combine all ingredients in blender container; blend about 1 minute.  Scrape down sides with rubber spatula and blend about 30 seconds more.  Refrigerate for 1 hour.  To cook:  Heat frying pan on medium-high heat just hot enough to sizzle a drop of water.  Brush lightly with melted butter.
 For each crepe:

To begin start with a small nonstick frying pan if you don't have a special crepe pan (which I don't).

Pour in just enough batter to cover bottom of pan, tipping and tilting pan to mover batter quickly over bottom.  If crepe has holes, add a drop or two of batter to patch.

Cook until light brown on bottom and dry on top.  Remove from pan using a fork to lift edge and then pick it up with fingers, but be careful it will be hot.

I like to use these pre-cut wax paper squares for ease, or you can cut your own.  Stack on plate as each one is cooked.  Makes 12-16 crepes.

Filling:

2 cups turkey, cooked and cut into pieces

1/2 c. cheddar cheese, shredded

1 (15 oz.) can pineapple tidbits (reserve juice)

1/2 cup chopped almonds

1 can cream of chicken soup

1/3 c. pineapple juice

1/2 tsp. thyme

1/2 tsp. lemon pepper

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

Mix chicken, cheese, pineapple and almonds with chicken soup and pineapple juice.  Add thyme and lemon pepper; mix ingredients together thoroughly.  Place 1/4 cup mixture in center of each crepe and roll.

Place crepes with seam-side down in oiled baking pan.  Cover with aluminum foil and heat in oven for 30 minutes.  When ready to serve arrange 2 crepes for each serving.  Spoon glaze over crepes

Glaze:

4 T. butter

4 T. flour

3 c. chicken stock

1/4 tsp. basil

1/2 tsp. rosemary

1/2 tsp. rubbed sage

Melt butter in heavy saucepan.  Add flour and stir into paste.  Add chicken stock and seasonings; cook until thickened.  Enjoy! (Because I made these ahead and froze them, I don't have the after photo to show-sorry)

To check out other great recipes visit Michael at Designs by Gollum who is our host for Foodie Friday.

Have a great Thanksgiving!

Thursday Tablescape-Breakfast on the Banquette

Thursday Tablescapes
I want to thank our host, Susan, at Between Naps on the Porch for hosting this event every week.  Be sure to visit her to see many beautiful posts of tables set to perfection.

For today's tablescape I decided to set my intimate breakfast table at my banquette.  This would be a morning breakfast or brunch.  I wanted it to be a happy start to the day so I began with a fun red runner that is edged in bright yellow, turquoise and chartreuse pom poms.

Next I added texture with my natural woven place mats and the hammered-look dark green chargers.
Then comes chartreuse plates and then these new green and white patterned plates that I found half price at World Market.

I like the look of the napkins going across the chargers that so many of you do, so these are green striped ones that pick up all the green colors of the plates.

I used different colored bowls at each place that are the colors of the ball fringe-yellow, chartreuse and orange.  Little clear glass juice glasses help visually by not taking up space.

Now I need your help with the next item.  I found just 3 of these darling little glass divided plates at the thrift store.  They are only 6" in diameter.  They are like the old fashioned ones that were used for cake and punch.  I actually used those kind at my wedding reception (so many years ago).  These are so small I don't know what their intended purpose was.  I did use one, the large part for gingersnaps and put the pumpkin dip in the littlest section for my granddaughter last week for a snack. If anyone knows more about these I'd like to know.  They fit perfectly on these green and white over sized salad plates, but did not show up in the picture there so I have them to the side.  I think they are just adorable.

This little table is really too small for much of a centerpiece so I just used a glass candleholder with a white candle and added a striped ribbon in the coordinating colors of the table.
Now, the table is set and I can envision a little fruit in the bowls-maybe half a grapefruit, then bacon and eggs on the new plates and perhaps waffles on the larger plates.  I had better stop here or there won't be room on the table for all the dishes!  I hope you've enjoyed your little breakfast with me today and that you'll come back tomorrow for some Chicken with Pineapple Crepes.
To see more tablescapes click here.

Giveaway

For all of you Twilight fans I am linking up to Tatertots and Jello today because she has a great New Moon giveaway!  Visit her today and read about her weekend in L.A. where she just happened upon a big promotion for New Moon and saw Janet Jackson up close and personal.  You may be the lucky winner!  Good luck.

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY...November 16, 2009

Outside my window... a patchwork blanket of snow in most places mixed with cold wet lawn in other places.

I am thinking...how glad I am that all my patio furniture and statues are safely enjoying the protection and warmth of my garage.

I am thankful for... living in this country of freedoms.

I am wearing... black jeans, cream long sleeved warm top and black and grey collared vest.

I am remembering... my children playing in the snow, making snowmen when they were children.

I am going...to pick up my quilts from the machine quilter, to take my car in for service, and to a Holiday Boutique tomorrow, and take Aunt Gladys to the bank and her errands on Thursday.

I am reading... my holiday magazines for ideas.

I am hoping... to get some blinds up in the guest bedroom before I have guests for Thanksgiving.

On my mind... just for today I am going to try to eat healthy.

Thinking that...making soup is a very satisfying task and very fulfilling in many ways.

Pondering these words... "Miracles can happen in our lives.  Live as though the answer has been granted.  Shed pride and plead for humility and mercy to do what you can't do alone"  Edith Marsh

From the kitchen... pumpkin pies that I made yesterday.

Around the house... the sound of the washer going, oatmeal cooking on the stove and my to do list growing.

One of my favorite things~ watching the relationships between my children and their children and how much love is shown to one another.

From my picture journal...

To read more daybook entries click here. 

Have a wonderful week!

Falling Leaves Tablescape and Foodie Friday

Today I am linking up to Thursday Tablescapes and Foodie Friday and thank the hosts that sponsor these each week.  This week's tablescape is from a luncheon I attended yesterday.  The theme was Falling Leaves so there were beautiful colored leaves everywhere from the podium in the room

to the tables set for lunch.  These oversized leaves were purchased last year at Tai Pan Trading.  You can see that the leaves are each about 12-15" long.
The centerpieces on each table are large ceramic leaves from Wal Mart with large fat candles in shades of fall (also from Wal Mart).

Each candle was wrapped with wide ribbon embossed with leaves and tied with a gold metal leaf.  Each leaf plate with its candle and decorations was sitting on a large satin quilted leaf set in the center of each table.

 Most of the 10 decorations were extracted from a basket of fall leaves and things that was purchased at DI (this area's Goodwill equivalent) for $2.00! A great buy.

Here is what the table looked like before lunch was served.  At each place was a tan program with colored leaves on it too.  Also each place had a wonderful chocolate favor.

The mint chocolate truffle was hand made by a local woman chocolatier and was placed inside a filigreed chocolate basket which had a chocolate turkey emblem on the front of the basket. (Three wonderful chocolate delights in one)!  These were set on a real maple leaf that had been spray painted gold.

And if that was not enough, we were serenaded by professional violists from the Symphony!

 Now, to the food.  The salad was lovely mixed greens with blue cheese, raspberries and walnuts with Raspberry vinaigrette. (The walnuts were coated with something spicy.  They weren't sugared.)

 

The main course was the most delicious piece of broiled sesame salmon served with Miso, four beef tips on skewers, sticky rice with mushroom sauce, one baby carrot and two asparagus spears cooked to French perfection!  Dessert was every woman's dream:  Three petite portions of (1) chocolate cake with sauce, (2) creme brulee with raspberry sauce in the bottom of the ramekin, and (3) ginger tart filled with sour cream and blackberries!  I guess I was so excited about the dessert that I forgot to take any pictures of it.  I wish I had recipes to share but do not.  Sorry.

 Thanks for visiting me today.  Click here to see more tablescapes and here to see tempting food and recipes.

Thankful for Ordinary Things

I have just learned about an important teaching moment.  I young mother of four daughters wanted her children to appreciate and learn gratitude for ordinary things that we all take for granted.  This is how she decided to do it.  Each night she presents one thing at the dinner table and then for that night and the next day they do without the particular thing.  She started with the gift of Light.  For dinner they dined by candlelight which the children loved.  One particularly active child began making silhouette animals from the shadow of the light but most were very attentive and caught the principle.  They played flashlight tag after dinner with flashlights.  At bedtime they read stories by the flashlights.  The mother said it was the most magical time with very quiet and peaceful children.  It went so well that she is now going to incorporate "stories by flashlight" into their regular bedtime routine.  Next she plans to teach about water.  They will only be using water brought in from the hose outside.  Can you just imagine the learning and the appreciation those children will have from this lesson?  In this month of gratitude I am so grateful for light and air and sun and heat and water. I don't ever want to be without any one of them!

For what are you grateful ?

Quick Gift idea

I needed a little gift the other day for two birthdays of friends and this is what I came up with. It is pretty fast and can be personalized to any event or occasion.

Here's how I made them:

1. You just need a small bottle of any shape.  I found these at Target (where else?) for a dollar.

2.  You choose your saying from the rub-ons found at any craft store.  I bought these from my cute Stampin' Up rep.  They have every imaginable holiday and sentiment on them.  Then you rub on as many or few as you like onto the outside of the bottle.

This one says Special Times with Special Friends (it is not a Stampin' Up rub-on)
3.  Fill with candies.  I think ones that are not too sticky work best.  I used Lemon Drops that our local grocery store sells in bulk.  You need light colored candies to be able to see the sentiment.  (The first one I gave had candy corn in it and you couldn't read the lettering until it was empty!  I learn by trial and error).

4.  I like to top it off with something. I choose these suckers that you can buy individually and they come in all different flavors-hence, different colors.  Tie a coordinating bow onto the sucker stick and push it into the candies in the bottle.

5.  Package it pretty in either cellophane or a see-through sack with some crinkle that matches the ribbon on the sucker.  Then tie with ribbon or wire.  This yellow wire is purchased by the spool and after you have tied it onto the sack you wind it around a pencil, pull it through and it curls, which is kind of cute.

Variations: If you didn't want to fill the bottle with candies you could just put some flowers in it (real, or fake-not my personal favorite) and add the ribbon onto the bottle outside.

I plan to make these as Christmas dinner favors and use these blinged up words that Michael's has right now in their dollar section.

Be warned:  They are a little tricky getting the letters on straight.   I think they would look cute with white gumballs, and red or green ribbon.  What do you think?