I’m really late this year. Hopefully you enjoy the decorations as much as we enjoy putting them up. But truth be told, my wife and daughter do most of it.
I take the lousy pictures and carry the boxes up from the basement. Oh and I help with putting the ornaments on the tree.
So on this Christmas morning I want to wish all a very Merry Christmas.
You’ll find more pictures in the comments section.
cups corn and/or rice cereal squares (such as Chex)
2c.
mini pretzels
1c.
salted roasted almonds
4Tbsp.
salted butter
1/4c.
honey
1/4c.
sugar
1tsp.
ground cinnamon
1tsp.
vanilla extract
1/2c.
white chocolate chips
2tsp.
coconut oil
1c.
red and green M&M’s
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 250˚F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, combine the cereal, pretzels, and almonds.
2In a small saucepan, melt the butter with the honey and sugar over low heat until the mixture is bubbling and well combined, about 2 minutes. Add the cinnamon and vanilla and stir until well combined. Pour half of the butter mixture over the cereal mixture and toss until well coated. Add the remaining butter mixture and toss again until evenly coated.
3Spread the mixture on the baking sheet in an even layer. Bake, stirring every 15 minutes, until toasted and just starting to dry out, about 1 hour.
4Combine the white chocolate chips and coconut oil in a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at 50% power in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval, until melted and smooth.
5Drizzle the white chocolate over the snack mix on the baking sheet, then immediately sprinkle with the M&M’s. Let cool completely so the white chocolate sets, about 30 minutes. Break into small clusters.
Just in time for the Holiday. For those who are new here, My wife has different themes that she decorates mostly our kitchen. This is the Patriotic Theme. So enjoy her decoration skills and my lousy picture taking.
Songs to kick in The New Year Join in with songs that you think are great for ringing in the New Year. Anytype of songs will do. Have a great New Year.
Hopefully you had a safe and enjoyable New Year’s Eve if you went out.
Hits of the 40’s. I’m going back in time. Music was king. Before my time and I’m sure the same is true for most of us here. But I’m sure you can find songs from that era.
The 1940s was a decade marked by significant global events, including World War II and the post-war period of recovery and reconstruction. Throughout this time, music played an important role in boosting morale, providing comfort and entertainment, and reflecting the social and cultural changes of the era. The 1940s saw the rise of popular music genres such as swing, jazz, and big band, as well as the emergence of iconic performers such as Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, and Billie Holiday.
Homemade Sweet Potato Soup Recipe | A Different Type of Potato Soup! Fall is here, and there’s no better way to usher in the change of the season than a bowl of this delicious Sweet Potato Soup! Featuring sweet and rich flavors, this dish will warm you up on a chilly day. Make a big pot for your friends and family!
Ingredients
1tablespoonflour
1tablespoonunsalted butter
1 1/2cupchicken broth
1tablespoonlight brown sugar
1 1/2cupsweet potatoes
1/4teaspoonground ginger
1/8teaspooncinnamon
1/8teaspoonnutmeg
1cupmilk
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste
Instructions
Peel 2 medium sweet potatoes.
Chop peeled sweet potatoes until you have 1 1/2 cup’s worth
Boil the sweet potatoes until soft.
In a heavy saucepan over medium-low heat, cook 1 tablespoon flour and 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, stirring constantly until it achieves a light caramel color.
Add 1 1/2 cup chicken broth and 1 tablespoon light brown sugar. Bring to a boil and then lower to a simmer.
Stir in sweet potatoes, 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon, and 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg. Bring to a simmer and cook 5 minutes more.
You can’t beat shopping in Amish Country. Last week we celebrated with another couple (my birthday). Before we met them, we stopped at three of our favorite stores. A Swiss cheese factory and two Amish grocery stores.
You need to look closely at the best buy dates. Everything we bought was best by in 2024 and 2025. Sometimes the boxes have dents as do the cans.
The featured picture is one of my favorite desserts.
The 24 oz. size. The small individual boxes are $.10 ea. This was best by 062024.Best by. 01-05-2024.$.49 ea.
How can you beat $1.99. Best buy 02-2025.
Saw this at my local grocery store on sale. $4.99.
I’ll post more in the comments section. If you live near Amish country stop in. The stores go by bent and dent plus Salvage.
The Christmas Cookie Club is made up of, from left, Ruth Ann Barker, Robin Gallagher, Karen Grubbs and Beabea Horoszko.
Views: 49
Christmas Cookie Club delivers memories annually. These women have been friends since they were 7 years old. What’s remarkable is the fact that the women are developmentally disabled.
Since 1992 they got together and baked their Christmas cookies. 31 years.
They enjoy a special connection which has become a testimony to the joy of the season, and an act which offers a deeper meaning — that the most important part of the Christmas holiday is being together.
The four starts at 10:30 am and bake till 4:30 pm. After baking, the group will go Christmas caroling at the homes of family members and then have dinner together. “They love that, they love going out to eat,” Bobbie said.
Merry Christmas weekend filled with Music. In case you haven’t noticed Christmas music has been playing on many of the radio stations and internet websites.
Let us join in and continue that tradition of Christmas songs. Now if anyone feels the urge to play another Holiday type song, feel free. Here’s a little tidbit I saw the other day.
There’re are over 500 different versions of White Christmas. I’m sure Bing Crosby’s is the most known. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
So, let’s take this throughout this long weekend. Play the songs that are old and new.
Mary Yoders is the place to be. Part 2. Back in July I did an article on one of my favorite Restaurants. Mary Yoder’s. Since we’re going there tomorrow to meet some friends, I thought I would post a link and an Amish recipe.
We’ve had their bread, pies, pastry, plus jelly and jams. For those who don’t live nearby, they have online ordering.
Wilt cabbage leaves by placing them in boiling water for 3 minutes and then drain. Mix all other ingredients together except soup. Shape meat mixture into oblong rolls and wrap in cabbage leaves. Fasten with toothpicks. Put tomato soup in a skillet and add rolls. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 45-60 minutes or until meat mixture is well done. You may need to add a little water during cooking period. Serve immediately.
MC’S Family Christmas Decorations 2023. Part 2. Living Room. It took a few days but here’s our Living Room. Our Living room does feature the fine furniture we have bought over the years.
But the way my wife did the decorating is something else. The first picture you see is what she did with our bookcase.
Next three is the start to finish of decorating our tree
Of course the fireplace.
The entrance way below contains a reproduction piece that was made by a famous maker of reproduction furniture. It took a years wait before he was finished.
MC’S Family Christmas decorations 2023. Part one Kitchen. I’ve decided to do this in two parts. The first one being the Kitchen. My wife and I put a lot of time and preparation into this.
Actually she does the majority of the work. I carry the decorations up from the lower level of our house up to the main floor.
Hopefully you enjoy the decorations. show us yours if you don’t mind.
Kitchen at a distance.
I’ll post the rest of the pictures in the comments. Feel free to post any Christmas decorations that you may have.
Rosemary sprigs and pomegranate seeds, for garnish
Directions:
To make the cake: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter a 12-by-17-inch rimmed baking sheet. Line with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on all sides. Butter the parchment.
In a large bowl, beat the egg whites, cream of tartar, and salt with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until frothy. Add 1/4 cup of the granulated sugar and beat on high speed until stiff, glossy peaks form, about 2 minutes.
In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, and baking powder. In a separate large bowl, combine the egg yolks, the remaining 1/2 cup sugar, and the vanilla. Beat on high speed until thick and creamy, 3 to 4 minutes. Beat in the melted butter and coffee until combined.
Add the flour mixture to the yolk mixture and beat on low speed until well combined. Fold a spoonful of the beaten egg whites into the batter until no streaks remain. Gently fold in the remaining egg whites until combined.
Transfer the batter to the prepared pan, gently nudging the batter so it fills the corners. Give the pan a little shimmy to even it out. Bake until the top just starts to spring back when gently pressed, 10 to 12 minutes (the top might still feel a little tacky). Do not over-bake or the cake will crack.
Place a clean dish towel on a large wire rack. Dust the cake with 2 tablespoons of the powdered sugar. While the cake is still hot, loosen the edges from the pan, then turn out the cake onto the towel; carefully remove the parchment. Dust the top with the remaining 2 tablespoons powdered sugar.
Starting at one of the long sides, use the towel to tightly roll up the cake with the towel inside. Position the cake seam-side down and let cool about 1 hour.
To make the filling: In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese with an electric mixer on low speed until just smooth. Add the powdered sugar and beat until smooth, about 1 minute. Gradually beat in the heavy cream 1/4 cup at a time, making sure the mixture is smooth before adding more cream. Increase the speed to medium high and beat until stiff peaks form, 2 to 4 minutes. Add the vanilla and beat for a few more seconds, just to combine.
Carefully unroll the cooled cake and spread evenly with the filling, leaving a 1/4- to 1/2-inch border on all sides. Re-roll the cake, using the towel to help you. Cover the cake roll with parchment paper and then tightly wrap in plastic wrap. Chill for at least 2 hours.
Meanwhile, for the frosting: To a medium bowl, add the chocolate. In a saucepan, bring the heavy cream and corn syrup to a simmer, then pour over the chocolate. Let sit for 5 minutes, then whisk until smooth. Let thicken at room temperature until spreadable, about 2 hours.
Unwrap the cake on a cutting board. Cut off one-fourth of the cake on a sharp diagonal for the branch. Position the branch against the remaining cake roll on a platter. Cover the cake with the frosting using an offset spatula, then drag a fork through the frosting to create a bark-like texture. Garnish with rosemary sprigs and pomegranate seeds.
Looking for folks to write some good articles on Food, Music, and Feel Good stories. We here at Koda invite folks to add articles to our website. These are non political articles.
We feature Music, Food, and feel good articles. If you would like to try, contact me at
ledbed12345@gmail.com
We use wordpress here, if not familiar we will teach you.
If nothing says Thanksgiving to you like a wobbly red blob with the can lines still on it, you’re not alone—Ocean Spray (whose farmers produce 65% of the world’s cranberries) told the Wall Street Journal that Americans will consume 80 million pounds of the tart berries next week. Though the holiday makes for the 93-year-old farming cooperative’s biggest sales, it’s been innovating for decades to keep cranberries on your mind even when you don’t have a turkey or a UTI: The company pioneered juice boxes in the 1980s and coined the term “craisin” in the 1990s.
They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but where does that leave reinvention? The best cover songs don’t simply repackage something familiar – they completely reinterpret the source material, dismantling the song and reassembling its parts into something exciting while keeping the core of what made it great.
Let’s hear it for cover songs. Sometimes the original can never be copied. It’s that good. But there have been many cover songs that were actually been better. I’ll put some tunes and ya all can see what is and is not as good.
Celebrate the Holiday. This weekend remember those who can’t be with us because they died defending their country. Also it gives me a chance to post my wife’s great decorating skills.
Sit back and post a poem or two, or even a song. Also enjoy the pictures or post your own.
Decoration theme is the red white and blue. Hopefully you enjoy Mrs. M’s decorating. It’s a joy of love for her.
A little bit of everything. Thrifting, curb shopping, and even some Easter pictures. I have to say that for us it’s a lot of luck. We don’t thrift or curb shop for items to sell. If we did, we would have made thousands of dollars. We use most of the furniture and nick knacks in decorating.
The brass you see in the pictures are almost all Baldwin Brass. A few Virginia Metalcrafters. The pewter plates and candlesticks are too numerous to mention.
A recent trip to a Mennonite thrift store where we made a donation.
Of course a few decoration pictures.
Got started on getting the gardens ready.
I’m not embarrassed to say we curb shop. OK I curb shop. But some items are real treasures. So sit back and enjoy.
Some of my curb shopping treasures. One awesome music store. Picked it up from my neighbor who put it out for disposal.
I could not believe that the person who owned these 5 chairs put them out on the curb. Value $4,500. Our cost. $0