Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Decorating, Family.

So, OK, I’m exhausted. Why you ask? Christmas decorations, I am Decorationsdefinitely into the Bah Humbug state of mind at the moment and Matt has sworn he will throw the Christmas tree away so we can’t have one next year. Honestly, I often wonder if it’s worth it. On the other hand, I do love Christmas although it’s never been the same without my mother, she was a kid at Christmas right to the end and I feel the same but don’t really have anyone to share it with. Matt is more like the Grinch. If someone offers us any more tree decorations I will definitely refuse. I have enough trouble as it is because we have so many. A friend just popped in and said she was making her husband do it on his own this year as being unable to play golf at the moment, he had nothing to do and was driving her nuts. Fairly soon after Christmas they will be off to the sunny south where he can golf to his heart’s content.  I still have to buy a small poinsettia for the dining table and then it will be done for this year. Yesterday someone mentioned that people were using themes for their decorations nowadays but, she said, all hers had memories attached. I said there you are, memories is your theme. Most of mine are the same, many to do with my mother.

I have my turkey breast, I have my Christmas pud and mince meat tarts, I still have to make rum butter sauce for the pud though. Guess I am ready for Christmas. All my cards have been mailed too.

I asked a cyber friend in England to look up the name of Matt’s Doug Wakebrother in her area; lo and behold she found him, or at least a picture of him and some information as he is a leading light in the local Rotary club. I had to get the picture id’d by Matt’s ex wife as we hadn’t seen him in years. It’s so sad the brothers have no real relationship. Partly as Matt built up resentment because his mother expected him to take his brother along all the time and held him responsible for any problems even though he wasn’t anywhere around; he apparently should have been around, no matter what. What a shame. Matt also said his brother was the favourite and could do no wrong. Parents can do a lot of damage if they are not careful.

Here’s a nice easy recipe from Kraft.

Hot Mushroom Turnovers


Hot Mushroom Turnovers recipe 
18 servings, 2 turnovers each

What You Need

 

1/2 cup  (1/2 of 8-oz. tub) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese Spread
1/2 cup  plus 1 Tbsp. butter, softened, divided
1-1/2 cups  plus 2 Tbsp. flour, divided
1/2 lb.  fresh mushrooms, finely chopped
1 small  onion, finely chopped
1/4 tsp.  dried thyme leaves
1/4 cup  BREAKSTONE'S or KNUDSEN Sour Cream
1 egg, beaten

Make It


BEAT cream cheese spread and 1/2 cup butter in large bowl with mixer until blended. Gradually beat in 1-1/2 cups flour; shape into ball. Wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate 1 hour.
MEANWHILE, melt remaining butter in medium skillet on medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and onions; cook 5 to 7 min. or until mushroom liquid is cooked off. Add thyme and remaining flour; mix well. Stir in sour cream. Remove from heat.
HEAT oven to 400ºF. Roll out dough on lightly floured surface to 15-inch square. Use 2-1/2-inch cookie cutter to cut dough into 36 rounds, rerolling scraps as necessary.
SPOON 1 tsp. mushroom mixture onto center of each round; brush edge with egg. Fold in half; seal edges with fork. Place on baking sheets sprayed with cooking spray. Cut small slits in tops to allow steam to escape; brush with remaining egg.
BAKE 18 to 20 min. or until golden brown.

Kraft Kitchens Tips

Size Wise
These warm mushroom appetizers are sure to be a hit when you share them with friends and family at your next gathering.
Make Ahead
This is a great make-ahead recipe. Assemble turnovers as directed; place on parchment-covered baking sheet. Brush with egg. Freeze, uncovered, until firm, then transfer to a freezerweight resealable plastic bag or freezer container; freeze up to 3 months. When ready to serve, place desired number of turnovers on baking sheets sprayed with cooking spray. Let stand at room temperature 1 hour, then bake as directed.
Note
For best results, let the refrigerated dough stand at room temperature 5 to 10 min. to soften slightly before rolling out.

Have a great day
Jo_thumb[2]

26 comments:

  1. Hi Jo. Our Christmas is a little different in that we are looking to cool down and hot food just doesn't do the trick. Nice juicy prawns are the go down here. I'm right into the Christmas spirit. Love it all. It's always a shame to take the tree down after all the fun is over!

    Merry Christmas to you!

    Denise

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know, I cannot imagine hot weather at Christmas. All the things that are so traditional to us are not good things for summer time. You should do a post about Christmas in Oz. Merry Christmas.

      Delete
  2. Hi Jo - I haven't done my decorations yet .. I must get my cards out first! Pity about Matt and his family ... difficult - but it's the way it goes sometimes.

    Glad you're nearly ready .. and those mushroom turnovers sound and look good - cheers Hilary

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Don't know about you Hilary, but in the UK we never decorated as early as we do here. I know, it's a shame isn't it?

      Not much to do now.

      Delete
  3. I didn't decorate for years due to depression....and it was a real bummer leading up to Christmas but come 12/26 and I was like, 'whoo hoo, nothing to take down!' My husband's ex wife left him w/ the kids 2 weeks before Christmas (20 years ago) and he was so devastated that he hurled the tree out the door and hated the holidays. Our first Christmas together I decided to break out the stuff, if not for him than at least for me. I remember texting him that I was decorating. He texted back, 'LOL Have fun'. Then a half hour later, I got, 'Make it homey'. So he has finally come around to enjoying Christmas again now that he has someone who loves him and his relationship w/ his kids is repaired.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am glad Christmas has changed for both of you and hope you will have a really happy one.

      Delete
  4. Hi Jo. We're not defined by the way we celebrate... we're simply asked to love each other. But this act of love is a challenge when we hold on to hurtful things and memories."To err is human - to forgive is divine." Sometimes it just takes others longer.(smile)
    I know you miss your Mom so much. Mine passed away 17 years ago - the love of my life would say: Dixie, remember the reason for the season. He's not looking at your tree - he's looking at your heart.
    I will keep you and Matt in my thoughts and prayers this season. And as I like to do every year - I'll add a bow on my tree for the two of you! When I'm being thankful, I'll see your bow and remember. You're in good company - I have lots of bows! Is there a particular colour choice for your bow??!! Let me know.(smile)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's very kind of you Dixie. Aqua is my favourite colour. but blue of any kind. Matt unlikely to change now I don't think, for various reasons.

      Delete
    2. Aqua indeed - that's the colour of my door wreath ornaments! (smile)

      Delete
  5. Memories of your mom sound pretty good to me. Did she like to bake and cook?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't understand the North American habit of dividing baking from cooking. Yes she was a wonderful cook and I am talking about everything. There was nothing she couldn't cook although sometimes she couldn't pronounce the names. She was what over here would be called a gourmet cook. Much better cook than I will ever be.

      Delete
    2. Well, I'm with you on this one, Jo. As I do both. But often when I talk with people here, and from across the pond, they will tell me that they love to cook, but hate to bake. Or, love to bake, and hate to cook.

      I get this answer so often from all over the world, that now, I just ask about both.

      Very nice to hear you write about your mom. I love those memories of watching my mom and my gram whip up something from nothing. Just very very nice.

      Hope you're feeling better today. I just finished watching another holiday movie. Going to warm some or something.

      Until next time, boogie boogie.

      Delete
    3. Well if they are doing that across the pond they must have picked it up from you guys. We have lots of things which we have picked up from the States. Even more so in Canada than in the UK.

      Delete
    4. I dunno, it's The Great British Bakeoff that's doing the best. Then USA copied that one and did one here. Wasn't nearly as good, but it did have Paul Hollywood. Though sadly, no Mary Berry. She's a baker and cook. Damn good, at both.

      Delete
    5. I guess I shouldn't talk about Britain as though I know what happens there any more, I have lived on this side of the pond for almost 40 years now. I don't know either of those names.

      Delete
  6. I struggle to get in the spirit anymore, but I do it for the kids.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. At least you have the kids to prompt you into the season. I hope you will get the spirit soon.

      Delete
  7. I never, ever thought I would be guilty of being bogged down by the season, but I am. It is so much work. I don't have my cards ready or all of my decorations out. I plan to do it all today. Wish me luck!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think planning to do it all in one day is a bit much. Although I am older, just doing the decorations killed me.

      Delete
  8. Rum butter sauce... yum! Scotto is the kid at Christmas in our family. He bought a fibre optic Christmas tree so he doesn't have to untangle lights. It was much easier.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love rum butter. Send Scotto over, I could do with someone like that. I like the idea of a fibre optic tree but what happens if they go wrong?

      Delete
  9. I love the Christmas season too, but don't get as involved as I used to, the kids are older and simply don't care! They're boys, so I guess that's their excuse. I tried so hard to give them traditions - ha, ha! What a joke! Although I still hold out hope that once they're married with families of their own that will change. We'll see.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Now a friend in Oz says her husband is the big kid in their house when it comes to Christmas. As you say, once they are married, maybe things will change although I don't think Matt has ever been that keen. My mother, now, quite a different thing, and she inspired me and I think my three orphan cousins. Certainly one of them is as gung ho about Christmas as my mother.

      Delete
  10. Hi Grandma Dragon! :) I'm keeping my Christmas simple too. I don't do anything big anymore now that my daughter is grown. :)

    Those mushroom turnovers look delicious. I would get so fat if I lived near you! Hugs!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If you are kind of on your own, or no young kids, it isn't so necessary. Of course if you are a big kid like Matt says I am, well......

      No you wouldn't, I wouldn't let you eat all the wrong things any more than I do these days.

      Delete