Thankful thoughts week three…

When getting ready to write this post I knew it I had to once again say how very thankful I am for the Internet! It has opened so many new doors for me, made many things in my world easier, and brought so many wonderful people into my life.

I did some Christmas shopping online earlier in the week and I am thankful for offers of free S&H from places like Toys R US , Lilly’s Kids, Amazon, Haggar and Kohl’s to name a few. Shhh… don’t tell Lili!!

I am thankful that because of the Internet, I met Bonnie, who introduced me to Audrey; and Laurie who introduced us to Kathleen, Jayne and Paula; and for blogging because that is how I met Loretta. And I am thankful they all made the drive from 4 different states to come to my home for a Prim Harvest Gathering earlier today. There is nothing like an afternoon spent with good friends, enjoying good food and fun and laughter and a little crafting too!

I am thankful for the awesome swap gifts I received from Laurie. Oh my, she went above and beyond and her swap gifts always come in containers that are just as wonderful as what is inside!

I am thankful for being able to set my table with things I love and for being able to leave a little token of friendship at the place setting of each friend. This time it was a Halladay’s Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake Mix I got at Homestead Primitives. Click ~here~ to visit this great store. Charleen and Roger carry a wonderful variety of Halladay mixes!!

I am thankful to Donna Briden from Stone Country in Ossippe NH (click here) for helping me find more of the placemats I got there on our trip in September. I love them and now I am on the lookout for just one more.

I am thankful for the coupons at Bed, Bath and Beyond that helped me to purchase our new Keurig coffee maker and a variety of coffees. I am enjoying the flavored decaf coffees in the afternoon now that the weather has turned very chilly.

I am thankful it really was put to good use today!

I am thankful that I live in a country where I can shop at many different grocery stores, each with such a huge variety of food and that I can share that food with family and friends.

I am thankful my dear friend Jenn made this cranberry salsa for me a few years ago when we spent some time making cards. We always have a great time when we are together – and we met over the Internet too when we both worked for an organization that sends care packages to folks on chemotherapy.

Cranberry Salsa

6 oz cranberries (1/2 bag)
1 red bell pepper
1 small red onion
2 small green apples - cored, skin on

1 can petite diced tomatoes - drained
1 cup sugar
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp Ground cumin

Instructions

Process first 4 ingredients in food processor until finely chopped. Add tomatoes and seasonings. Double it because it freezes well. Great with corn chips

I am thankful for my mini food processor for making the chopping job of the salsa and the soup recipe below so much easier!

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I am thankful for my Nesco roasters that also act as slow cookers for recipes like this!

Cheesy Potato Soup

chicken broth – 2 quarts

1 small diced onions

2 stalks diced celery

3/4 cup diced carrots

1 pkg frozen hash browns

2 cans cheese soup

8 oz Pkg shredded cheddar cheese

Cook veggies in broth until soft, add hash browns and cook until tender. Add cheese soup and blend well. Add shredded cheese and stir until it melts.

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I am so thankful my dear long time friend Chris made this for me for lunch several years ago! It is one of my favorite salad recipes!

Broccoli salad

4-5 cups raw broccoli florets

1 cup raisins & 1 cup peanuts

1/2 cup chopped onion

Dressing :

1 cup Hellman's mayonnaise - no substitutions

2 tsp. cider vinegar

2 tsp. sugar

Combine and pour over other ingredients and chill. Best made the day before or at least several hours before.

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I am thankful for make ahead recipes like this one.

Turkey Spinach Lasagna Alfredo

1 box oven ready lasagna noodles
1 lb ground turkey
2 jars Alfredo sauce –( I only used 1 and 2/3 and next time I will use it all)
15 oz carton of part skim ricotta cheese
1 egg, slightly beaten
1/2 tsp basil and 1/2 tsp oregano and 1/2 tsp garlic powder
2 bags shredded mozzarella
3/4 – 1 cup parmesan cheese

1 bag fresh baby spinach leaves – I only used 2/3 of it

Brown the turkey meat set it aside.
In a separate bowl, mix ricotta, seasoning, and egg.
Start layering.
Spray a little Pam cooking spray in the bottom of the 9 x 13 baking pan.
Add a little Alfredo sauce to coat the bottom of the pan. Layer as follows- noodles, ricotta, turkey, spinach, mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, repeat again and then ending with a layer of noodles covered with a generous layer of sauce and a little more parmesan. Bake 30 minutes @ 350, and then cover with a generous handful of mozzarella. Bake until mozzarella is bubbly and golden. Let sit for 15 minutes or so before cutting into.

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I am so thankful Maria Cardillo served us this recipe when we had our APP event at Country Culture (click ~here~ )in September.

Grape Salad

2 lbs green seedless grapes

( I used black this time and I thankful the store had them since they ran out of green!)

2 lbs red seedless grapes

8 ounces sour cream

8 ounces cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract, to taste

Topping Ingredients

1 cup brown sugar, packed, to taste

1 cup crushed pecans, to taste

Directions

Wash and stem grapes.

Set aside.

Mix sour cream, cream cheese, white sugar and vanilla by hand until blended.

Stir grapes into mixture, and pour in 9x13 glass pan or similar size casserole.

For topping:

Combine brown sugar, and crushed pecans. Sprinkle over top of grapes to cover completely.

Chill overnight. I am thankful that friends brought some other yummy desserts too!

I am thankful for two working hands so I can spend time crafting with friends. Today we made some prim bowl fillers with clothespins, fabric, rusty pins, buttons and some gals used rusty bells too.

(yes that’s me at the head ff the table)

I am thankful for the hostess gifts I received today – they are not necessary but very much appreciated!

I am thankful that my mums and pumpkins lasted until my gathering.

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I am so thankful that way back in 1972 when I was just 17, my mom fixed me up with the cute college guy who would become my husband a few years later. He is the best husband, dad and Bampee ever. Just look at how he spoils Lili. There is nothing she enjoys more than talking walks with Bampee. Meaning HE carries HER around our neighborhood or her neighborhood and they explore! They have forged a very special bond on their walks and she brings home the most wonderful treasure. At any one time I might have decaying crab apples, grapes, leaves, or flowers somewhere in the house after she brings them home and drops them! LOL

Lili’s home and our home are both in very hilly neighborhoods so this is a real labor of love for Bampee. The city Lili lives in is the city of 7 hills and the hill we live on would have been the 8th hill if we were in that city’s limits. This is the view from Lili’s front window. You can see clear across the city to the hill where we live!

See that bump on the horizon to the left of the pine tree. That is indeed where we live. And wait – what is this I spy??

Why that is Bampee carrying Lili up the hill!!

See I told you he is the best Bampee ever and I am so very very thankful to be enjoying this very special time in our lives together!

Thank YOU all for once again stopping by!

I am making this a dual post – here in Behind My Red Door and on A Primitive Place blog as well.

And don’t forget, if you make a thankful post, please make sure to let me know!

Until next time – prim hugs, Grammee Linda

LiveJournal Tags: Fall Gathering,Recipes