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Archive for the ‘Christmas’ Category

One easy way to deck your walls, or halls, is to hang up some Christmas artwork.

Not everyone can afford to run right out and buy some beautiful piece of original creativity, but there are some really inexpensive things you can do.

santa with roses

This fun little piece of art is actually a framed Christmas card. I got the mat at Wally-world along with the frame. I think the whole thing probably cost me less than $8. And I love it. Who is Santa giving those flowers to? What is that jolly old elf up to?

santa patriotic

This patriotic Santa print is one of my favorites. It is bold and striking and adds a wonderful pop of color to my dining room wall. The artwork was actually a gift bag I found at a Hallmark store a few years ago. I carefully cut out the front panel that was bedecked with sparkles, put it behind a pre-cut mat (again from Wal-Mart) and framed it. Probably looking at about a $12 investment for this piece of artwork.

Not bad, huh?

winter scene costco

Captain Cavedweller found this at Costco one year for next to nothing. I love the scene and it looks perfect above our fireplace.

As you begin to deck your halls, look at inexpensive ways to bring some magic to your home.

She Who Likes to Get Creative with Her Decorations

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25 days 2011

Guess what?

It’s time for the annual 25 days of Christmas on Savvy Entertaining!

To start you off, here is one of my favorite holiday songs…

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

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My sweet Aunt Louise used to make this pumpkin roll. I thought it was divine then and still do. She was one of those special people who just exuded loving kindness. She always looked for the good in others, was generous and giving and gracious.

She shared this recipe with me, taking the time to type it out on a 3×5 index card. That recipe card is now covered in splatters and caked on sugar, but every year when I pull it out of my recipe box, it makes me smile and remember a wonderful lady.

Although she passed away from cancer several years ago, Aunt Louise’s gentle spirit is still greatly missed.

This yummy dessert isn’t hard to make, but like a lot of marvelous things, it does take a little time!

Ingredients

 

Mix dry ingredients and set aside.

 

You will beat the eggs senseless and then some before adding pumpkin and other wet ingredients.

 

Once you’ve got it mixed, pour into a jelly roll pan and bake. Keep an eye on it so it doesn’t get overcooked.

 

Liberally sprinkle powdered sugar over a tea towel.

 

Roll pumpkin roll into towel and let cool completely.

 

When cool, spread on cream cheese filling and reroll.

 

Refrigerate wrapped in plastic wrap until ready to serve, then slice.

 

When cool, spread on cream cheese filling and reroll.

Enjoy!

Louise’s Pumpkin Cake Roll

Cake:

3 eggs

1 cup sugar

2/3 cup canned pumpkin

1 tsp. lemon juice

3/4 cup flour

2 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. ginger

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

1 tsp. baking powder

1 cup finely chopped walnuts

Filling:

1 cup powdered sugar

1 8 ounce package cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup margarine or butter

1 tsp. vanilla

1/4 cup candied cherries

In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs with a mixer on high for five minutes. Gradually beat in the 1 cup of sugar. Stir in pumpkin and lemon juice. In a small bowl, stir together flour and other dry ingredients. Fold into pumpkin mixture. Spread batter in a greased and floured 15x10x1 jelly roll pan. Sprinkle with nuts. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Immediately invert cake onto a flour-sack towel sprinkled with powdered sugar. Roll cake and towel up together. Cool completely. Unroll cake. In a mixing bowl beat 1 cup powdered sugar, cream cheese, butter and vanilla with mixer on medium speed until smooth. Spread over cake. Reroll cake, cover and chill in refrigerator until ready to serve. Cut into 1-inch slices and garnish with cherries. Makes 10-12 servings.

* Note: You can substitute pecans for walnuts or make without nuts. You can also garnish with a dollop of whipped cream, glazed nuts or a sprinkle of cinnamon.

She Who Wishes You a Very Happy Christmas Eve!

 

 

 

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On special occasions or the rare days when Captain Cavedweller and I can enjoy a leisurely breakfast, I like to make crepes. Our favorite filling is fresh fruit with whipped  cream. Captain Cavedweller loves bananas while I tend to favor berries.

I’ve had this recipe for crepes since I was in the seventh grade. Our teacher decided to give us all some culture and let each of us a select a country to study up on and do a presentation complete with props. While I got stuck with India (when you are next to the last to get to choose, there aren’t a lot of countries left!), one of the girls choose France. Her mother brought in a hot plate and helped her make crepes for the class. They were delightfully wonderful and so different from anything I’d eaten. When she passed out copies of the recipe, I immediately went home and  begged my mom to let me make them. She did and I’ve been making them sense. Although my dad always called these flat pancakes, Captain Cavedweller does enjoy them!

These are light and delicious – just right for a morning brunch before a big holiday meal!

 

Ingredients

 

Mix the ingredients until it is smooth and there are no visible lumps.

 

Cook in a hot pan, lightly oiled. It just takes a minute or so for each side.

 

You want each side to be a nice golden brown.

 

Fill with berries and whipped cream.

 

Cook in a hot pan, lightly oiled. It just takes a minute or so for each side.

Enjoy!

Crepes

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon  sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

3 eggs

2 cups milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 tablespoons butter, melted

Combine dry ingredients and set aside. Beat eggs until broken down. Add milk and vanilla extract and beat well. Beat in flour mixture until mixed then add in melted butter.

Lightly oil a hot griddle, frying pan or (if you have one) a crepe pan. Pour about two tablespoons of batter in the pan and thin it out by swirling the pan around. Tip and rotate until the batter is as thin as possible. Cook until each side is a light, golden brown.

Fill with fruit and whipped cream and roll. Top with a dusting of powdered sugar and enjoy!

Serves about 12.

She Who Loves Crepes!

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