Snowman Angel Ornament

It is made from muslin that has been dyed. About 6" wide. Use blush, paint a nose, beads for eyes, garland halo, and some curly hair. The wings are approx. 2 1/2" hearts (rusty). Don't forget the hanger.

Barbecued Meatballs

3 lbs. ground beef
1 (12 oz) can evaporated milk
1 cup oatmeal
1 cup cracker crumbs
2 eggs
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
2 tsp. chili powder

Sauce:
2 cups catsup
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp. liquid smoke (or to taste)
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 cup chopped onion

To make meatballs, combine all ingredients (mixture will be soft) and shape into walnut size balls. Place meatballs in a single layer on wax paper lined cookie sheets, (I never use the wax paper) and freeze until solid. Store frozen meatballs in freezer bags until ready to cook.

To make the sauce, combine all ingredients and stir until sugar is dissolved. Place frozen meatballs in a 13X9" pan and pour on the sauce. Bake at 350 for 1 hour.
Yield: 80 meatballs

Nice to have in the freezer and if company comes by you just have to do the sauce.

For this recipe I usually double the sauce.

These are made every Christmas Eve at our house.

Have some in the oven this a.m. for a surprise potluck for the bosses b'day today.

2 out of 3 done (stockings)

I have been wanting to make new stockings for the last 3 or 4 years. Even had the material so finally made one on Sunday and another on Monday. My son Ryan is the deer one and my daughters fiancee Ryan is the John Deere. Jaymee's I think will be cherries but will make sure that is the material she wants before making it.

Can enlarge

Mexican Rice

2 cups cooked rice
10 3/4 oz can cream of chicken soup
8 oz sour cream
1 small can green chilies, chopped or whole
1/2 cup cheddar cheese, grated
Optional add some hot sauce.
Mix rice, soup, sour cream and hot sauce if adding. Put half of the rice mixture in a baking dish, add half the grated cheese and chilies. Then put remaining mixture on top with remaining cheese and chilies. Bake or mircowave until heated through. Serves 8.
Can be made ahead and frozen. (I have never tried freezing it)

What Can we do with a Santa hat?

There are several out there but here are a few more. (probably ones you have heard of already)

1.) Fill it up with bags of home-baked goodies (peanut brittle, spiced mixed nuts, etc or even an assortment of candy bars.)

2.) Fill it up with some snacks and a homemade coupon book for your sweetie, kids or whomever. Or even gift cards to the movies, eating place, gas or video store. (could do microwave popcorn)

3.) The big hats you could use under plates as placemats. The little ones you can use by each setting and put in a favor of some type.

4.) Can hang one on a door or gate upside down with a bouquet of greenery and holly in it.

5.) On a mantel hang them upside down with a bell and a name to resemble stockings.

6.) Along the line of using as a gift basket:
dog bones and treats
cat toys
gardener-seeds, books, etc
crafter-yarn, needles, pattern books, floss (cross stitching), etc
sewer-needles, thread, scissors, a scissor sharpener (love mine-was like $7 or 8 at Wal-Mart. When they had material and stuff)
student-pens, notebooks, sticky notes
scrapbook-glue dots, stickers
women or girls-lotion, booties, files
man-snacks, scratch off lottery tickets (anybody likes those)
golfer-balls, tees, gloves

The little ones are cute for favors at church too. Fill with lotion, lip chap etc

And of course you normally bring smiles to some if you just wear one doing the season when you are out and about. Others want nothing to do with the season!

Hope this helps all your creative ideals to start flowing!

Fabulous Fruit Salad

8 ounce jar maraschino cherries
2 pints frozen strawberries thawed
6 ounce can frozen orange juice thawed
12 ounce lemon-lime soda
16 ounce can pineapple tidbits, reserving juice
2 bananas, sliced
6 ounce can frozen lemonade, thawed

Mix ingredients together and pour into a 13X9 cake pan and freeze. Cut into squares and place on lettuce leaves when serving if desired. Serve immediately.
Serves 12-14

Candy Corn Bark

I have eaten this before and I just ran across the recipe again

16 chocolate sandwich cookies, chopped
1 1/2 cups broken small pretzels
2 cups candy corn
1 1/2 pounds white chocolate broken into squares
brown and orange sprinkles

Spread the cookies, and pretzels onto a lightly greased baking sheet (small). Melt chocolate in a bowl set over a pan of simmering water or in microwave. Stirring often. Stir until smooth.
Pour chocolate evenly over the pan. Top with the sprinkles and candy corn. Let it cool. When firm break apart and store in airtight containers.

The time I ate it they also had raisins in it.