47 weeks until Christmas 2025 ~ New Recipes Tried

 I made myself a binder (nothing special, just to organize) for Christmas preparations years ago.  I keep recipes (which I should also copy and keep in my regular recipe box), Christmas gift ideas, games and so forth.

There is not too much in the binder, as years went by, and we continued to remove very old (and dog ruined) carpet, and do home repairs and updates.  We just didn't host any holiday here, and we continue to do that (much needed repairs, updates, purging, painting etc.), but in the mean time. . .

The binder reminds me to try a new recipe, or write down a homemade edible food gift idea etc. Back in the day, January and February were my months to made handmade Christmas tree ornaments for the next Christmas.  I LOVED making Christmas ornaments, and my family was given a plenitude of them.  Trust me when I say in abundance, ha ha!  

I then resorted to steering those same energies to making them and selling them.  I have now left the craft show scene due to lack of support/sales.  I can tell you, that I do miss making ornaments and creating new ones from recycled materials.  I may be making some to donate.  Anyway, back to the recipe.

What did I try?

Pigs in a Blanket (Recipe is free online at Mennonite Girls Can Cook).

Holiday Appetizer 

Honestly, this would be a great go-to for any party you are attending.  The re-heating part has me thinking on easier ways that using an oven, but I'm not sure that's possible.  Anyway. . .

You make a homemade dough (very easy to make, but they suggest you cream the cottage cheese, and I did), split it in 6 pieces, then roll each piece to a disc and cut it into 8 pieces to roll each mini-sausage.  Place them on parchment lined baking sheets and bake.

I forgot to take a photo of how to cut the ball of dough into 6 equal parts, so here is an image from google for a visual.

You then roll each piece into a disc, shown in my photo below.

I forgot to take a photo of how to slice this in 8 pieces.  I used a pizza cutter.

(photo from google, showing a visual for cutting the rolled dough into 8 pieces, but you want your dough to be about 1/8 inch thick for these pigs in a blanket).

(one 14 ounce package of sausage smokies gave me 38 in the final baking, see notes on how I used the extra dough, or buy two packages of meat).

(notice the print date on this recipe?  Oh boy!  In the process of looking for it, I found my long lost broccoli salad recipe card that my SIL shared with me.  Time to clean off the side of the fridge ha ha ha ha!)

I printed the new (to me) recipe about a year ago, and it came up on my reading list via my blog last Christmas.  I finally got around to trying it, and guess what?  It's a keeper appetizer recipe.

I will be very interested if this does indeed freeze well (according to the recipe instructions it freezes well, and reheats nicely {bonus}).

The cocktail sausages are not that healthy, but the dough is homemade, and oh my gosh it tastes so good, and is very flaky.  I made the dough about 3 days in advance, and it still made a delicious result. By the way, I am currently looking in stores, to see if they make the mini sausages from turkey or chicken.

There were no instructions on suggestions for re-heating, so I may play around with that idea.  I think keeping them warm in a crock pot would not work, as the steam may make them soggy.

They only sell the mini (smokies) sausages in 14 ounce packages, so we had a small bit of dough left.  We used it to wrap turkey pepperoni and it turned out pretty good too (maybe add a small bit of cheese for those).

We made a homemade honey mustard dip for these too.  They are good on their own, but who doesn't like a dip for appetizers?  The recipe is from Inspired Taste online, but I used Greek yogurt instead of sour cream (I didn't have any on hand), and it was delicious.  

The newly tried recipes would be great for any gathering, potluck, holiday meal or just for fun.  It would be nice to have some Pigs in a Blanket in the freezer for unexpected guests too.  I call these "not just for Christmas" recipes, but that is what I had in mind for them.

47 weeks until Christmas 2025 ~ New Recipes Tried  © January 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Happy Homemaker Monday {January 27, 2025}

The recent cold snap caused some businesses to deal with burst water pipes.  Some busted water lines flooded streets, and some flooded University dorm basements.

The puzzle has been an addiction.   It is 24 x 30 inches.  Huge!

Meanwhile, I'm patiently waiting for the doctors hands on diagnosis (vs. a phone call diagnosis).  I am patiently waiting for a clear-all, so I can get back to doing regular work around here, and possibly volunteer where needed (and helping my husband's cousin, read below in prayer requests).  A community member is also in need of help, and I can't commit to anything until I am cleared of all/any restrictions.  If you know how active I am, you know it's taking a great amount of patience. **see prayer request at the bottom of the post

Homemaking tip:  how to remove a sticky note stain from a kitchen counter.  Hair spray. 

My husband got a sticky note wet, and it stained my kitchen counter.  Nothing was wiping away the stain, so I tried hairspray.  Not sure if anything else will work, but I gave it a try, and it worked.

Today I am joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

I will link up when she posts.

The weather in our neck of the woods . . .

17°F with a windchill of 5°F.

Things that make me happy. . .

Books that make me laugh out loud.  The main character in one of my books kept talking about her pet, so I assumed a dog.  About 80 pages into the book, she mentions carrying it in a fanny pack, and it is none other than a recuperating (hit by a car) opossum.  Ha ha ha ha!  Living in the country, this made me laugh, straight up, out loud.

Book I am reading . . .

Yes, I have two books I am reading (in addition to my other morning three small readings).  One for the treadmill for slower days, and one for other times.  Might as well take advantage of winter days.  The "treadmill" book may be the last one, as my hamstring is healing now, and thankfully recovering from my injury.

On my TV . . .

We ordered some movies from the library, so those are on the way soon.  These are movies that charge a fee on all streaming sites, but cost us zero to borrow from our local library.

On my breakfast plate . . .

Sweet potato and black bean frittata (with added greens from the freezer/thawed)

On my lunch plate . . .

Not sure yet.

On my dinner plate . . .

Roast, and vegetables.

On the menu . . .

-Roast and vegetables (crock pot)

-Stuffed bell peppers (frozen with home grown bell peppers from the garden last year)

-Creamy chicken/rice soup

-Leftovers

On the to-do list . . .

Picking 3 things on my written home update/repair list (for the week)

-bake breakfast frittata
-dishes
-any laundry
-sweep and mop floors

New recipe I tried or want to try . . .

We tried the crock pot herbed flounder (a fix-it-and-forget it recipe).  We did not really like it.  It may have been the fish itself in this case, but the flounder did not taste that good.

We also tried a creamy parmesan sausage ditalini soup (several options online), and we love it.  I added extra seasoning. 

We tried an artichoke/mushroom egg casserole for one of our breakfast meals.  Most likely will not make it again.  We both didn't like the artichoke flavor in this.  Healthy, but not tasty enough to keep the recipe.  Do you have any good artichoke recipes?  Other than for breakfast?

We also tried (yes another) new recipe for an appetizer.  To keep this post shorter, I'll post it in a Christmas countdown post (it's a keeper recipe too).

What I am creating . . .

Finished the current lap afghan.  I named it "I love you a Latte" which gave us a chuckle (looks like coffee).

You can read about my "book" blanket HERE.

A community member is seeking crocheted prayer shawls, so I am now searching for patterns.  If you have one, please share in the comments (shawls approx. 30 x 50 inches)

No words needed (favorite photo). . .

Devotional, Prayers, Bible Verses . . .

Prayers for my husband's cousin Carol.  Christmas Eve she took a fall, fracturing her right elbow and left wrist, injuring her face, and was in a rehab/nursing home for 3 weeks (we just found out).  She has limitations of upper extremity movements. She is the main care taker for her sister and her sister's husband who live in an assisted living facility, but Carol takes them to appointments etc.

Prayers for those who have doctor appointments this week. Praying for good results, and praying for the hands and minds of the doctors and nurses involved.

 My husband has a regular check up this week, with routine blood work.  I do too, but mine is a combined appt with some more examinations that may be indirectly related to my fall back in December (at least fracture was ruled out). Please pray for good results for the both of us (I'm still on a "no lift restriction).  My appointment is the one that is taking me 6 weeks to get in for (God has a plan). I asked for prayers to get in earlier, but it did not happen.  Apparently, some people are having to wait 3 months to get into a specialist or even a doctor now-a-days.  It's crazy.

Happy Homemaker Monday {January 27, 2025} © January 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart