Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Even MORE Christmas Goodies...

As I mentioned in my last post, I've been doing a bit of cooking, baking and candy-making in preparation for Christmas.

Since my last post I finished making my homemade salami, or summer sausage as some people call it.


I also made my and Jessica's favorite version of glazed pecans, homemade turtles and Big Mama's Toffee. Man, oh MAN is it delicious! And easy to make, too.

I made white fudge and chocolate fudge, too.


So, let's start with the pictures:

This is my homemade salami, or summer sausage.
Good stuff, if I do say so myself.This is chocolate Fantasy Fudge.
These are my favorite glazed pecans.
Jessica loves these, too, and made a
special request for them this Christmas.
Starting clockwise from the top, there's
white fudge, fantasy fudge, turtles,
and Big Mama's Toffee.

I still have a church party on Friday night and my sister Cecil and her hubby Brian are having a party on Saturday night. I'll have to take goodies to both of those, so they'll be getting some of these I have pictured and the ones I've already made and have hoarded away.

I'll be making my cheesecake on Friday so it can ripen for Christmas day, and I'll be making 2 Italian Cream Cakes on Saturday for Cecil's party. One is to eat at the party and one is a gift for someone.

Right now I have no idea who will be here for Sunday Dinner and how many. So, as of this minute I have no idea what I'm cooking. I should know more about it by Saturday night or Sunday morning for sure.

My sister Ducky is cooking and bringing the ham for Christmas dinner on Monday. I'll be making the side dishes and I may ask anybody else who's coming for dinner to bring a dish. I'll have plenty of sweets and d
esserts. I've made dressing at least 4 times in the last 4 weeks and I'm heartily sick of it for the present, so we'll be having something besides dressing to go with that ham. The menu should firm up closer to Christmas as I find out who'll be here and what they're bringing. It would be fine with me to have ham sandwiches for Christmas dinner. It would save me and the other women a lot of kitchen time, too. Stay tuned....

Jessica is doing pretty good at the present time. She still has icky days and moments, but she's gone as much as 4 days without doing a recall on her stomach contents. She pulled some muscles in her belly last weekend and gave us all a scare, but she's doing well otherwise. She pulled those muscles doing something really stupid that a pregnant woman shouldn't have been doing in the first place, but I'll leave it at that. I'm just praising God that she and Peanut are okay.

January 16th we should find out the sex of the baby. They think they want a boy, but I'm willing to bet they won't want to send it back if it's a girl. They already have some names picked out, but they've changed their minds a couple of times. I'll just wait and see. Peanut is fine with me for now. Jessica was "Bud" up until she was born and for a little while after. As long as Peanut is healthy, I don't have a preference either way. Boy or girl, either is fine with me. Good thing, huh? Like we could place an order...

If we're not rained out, a group from my church is going carolling on Thursday night. I have that church Christmas party on Friday night, Cecil's party on Saturday night, church on Sunday morning, then Christmas day. The next several days are gonna be busy for me, and I suspect for most of you as well.

I want to take this time to wish all my blogging friends, regular readers and lurkers a very Merry Christmas, and a blessed New Year.

I love you all.

26 comments:

Meow (aka Connie) said...

Merry Christmas, and a wonderful New Year to you, too, Diane.
Your sweets and baking look amazing ... I could just about smell them through the photo.
Hope you are well.
Take care, hugs, Meow

Jeana said...

"Doing a recall on her stomach contents." Now that's funny.

boomama said...

OHHHH I'm hungry now.

And Merry Christmas to you and yours! Hope y'all have a wonderful holiday!

Big Mama said...

Everything looks so good! I'm glad you liked the toffee, it's one of my favorite Christmas treats.

Merry Christmas to you and your family, Diane. I wish y'all a blessed holiday season!

Barb said...

Your little kissing snow couple is adorable. :-)The way those two are making out, I'm surprised they haven't melted. *snort*

I printed Big Mama's recipe for toffee the moment she posted it. I realized right away I had everything I'd need to make it on hand. Even the pecans! So I'making it this morning before my Mom gets here and then I'm going to watch her eat it until she gets sick, just like Big Mama says you're supposed to do. Hee hee.

You tell Jessica to start acting like a pregnant woman and let someone else do whatever she did to pull those muscles. Put your Mama food down!

I'm baking a ham and the baby turkey Rob got at Thanksgiving, slicing them up and we're doing a sandwich and things open-house buffet Christmas Eve. No big sit-down dinner for us this year and it already feels like a huge relief.

If I don't talk to you again before Christmas, I want you to know that your friendship is one of the ones I treasure so much. Getting to know you has been a blessing to me.

Merry Christmas to you and Lamar and the kids and your whole family, Diane. You're a dear, dear friend.

xoxoxo

Susie said...

Your candy looks just delish! You are going to be on the go the next several days aren't you!!
We're in and out doing all the last minutes things, but with not hosting Christmas Eve dinner this year it gives us a bit more time to tend to Grandpa.
Merry Christmas to you and your wonderful family. I'm so glad we're blogging buddies!
xoxox

Andre said...

So let me get this straight:

For Christmas, you decide to give me 12 extra pounds with all these recipes?! There's a such thing as being TOO GIVING, Di. ;-P

I'm happy to hear that things are going well with Jess, Jase, and Peanut. My mom's life was completely turned upside down when Landon came. Me thinks that I can expect the same with you and your Peanut. I can't wait too see the newest addition your (nay...OUR) family!

Have a wonderful and blessed holiday!

Diane Viere said...

Merry Christmas right back at ya! Are you available for adoption? I need a great baker/cook/chef extraordinaire in my family! I love reading and learning.....I can almost taste and smell the goodies!

Blessings to you and yours at this blessed Christmas Season!

Diane

Dick said...

Oh why is it that I can no longer eat those wonderful candies without gaining weight? We went to our last Christmas party yesterday and I was real good in eating only two cookies. It seems that often being good isn't as much fun!

Have a good Christmas with your wonderful family.

TJ said...

Your candy looks really yummy Diane!
We always did a bbq shoulder and made sandwiches and the fixin's for Christmas in Ky...easier as the kiddo's were always straining at the bit to get under the tree for the presents...lol!!
Soon you'll have one to spoil!!
:-D
Merry Christmas to you and yours!!

Rachel said...

You have been busy and it all looks so yummy, as no doubt it is!!

Love the kissing snowman/woman!! Cute!!

I wish you and your family a peaceful, joyous, and blessed Christmas and New Year!

Nashe^ said...

Fudge fudge fudge!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i'm going crazy. You're absolutely killing -and i mean KILLING- me with those pictures..

_nashty_

Mountain Mama said...

Your candies look so enticing! I haven't had supper yet and my tummy is howling! LOL
Glad Jessica is ok. What a scare. She better just take it a little easier.
I'm going to my youngest daughters for Christmas dinner. I am taking two pies, a blackberry cream, which is my own recipe, and not sure what other kind.
Gee, I think I might make a small batch of fudge, now that you got me hankering for it.
A happy Christmas to you Diane, and a beautiful new year with that sweet little peanut.

Corina Bowen said...

thanks! now I am hungry.... again! :-)
Merry Christmas!!

on the Rock said...

Merry Christmas to you and all your family! May you be lifted in the true spirit of God's love!

Sister said...

Diane,
I'm so grateful to have found you last February while wondering around in Bloggyville!

Your Christmas treats look scrumptious and good enough to eat. :)

Merry Christmas to you and yours...

Paulette said...

Hey diane,
Man I was really hungry from all that food until I read about the stomache contents lol now I am still on my diet Thanks! It all looks wonderful sounds like you are truely enjoying Christmas season. I hope you have a great one dear Friend.

RennyBA said...

What a lovely Christmas post - setting me into the right Holiday spirit - thanks!

From all of me to all of you: Marry Christmas:-)

Naturegirl said...

Diane there is always a treat waiting here for me when I visit! YUMM to it all as I do have a ~*sweet tooth!*!

I wanted to thank you for generous comments you leave at nature-trail this past year and I wish you and your family The Happiest Christmas
and peace to you all. hugs NG

Linda said...

You're making my mouth water and my tummy growl!!! Great stuff!! I'm glad Jessica is feeling a bit better. I think you're right about the little girl....
Have a wonderful Christmas Diane. It has been an absolute delight getting to know you. You are a very special lady. Thank you so much for your wonderful friendship.

Anonymous said...

Dear Diane
You are so busy. Wish I could just be the taste tester in your kitchen. Oh I would have the best time!

Glad to hear Jessica and baby are doing okay...tell her to be good.lol

All the best to you and your family. Have a wonderful Christmas.

Hugs,
Connie

Brenda said...

Oh yum! Do you need someone to sample those goodies for you? I'd be happy to oblige. Except that after Christmas dinner with my mom's family, I never have any room for one more bite of anything if I want to keep breathing. Somehow, I don't think that's what they mean by "suffering for the cause." Oh well.

I'm glad Jessica's doing well. Boy or girl, Peanut is fine name. I've known 2 girls with that nickname.

May you and your family have a very merry, blessed Christmas!

Anonymous said...

Glad everything is going well for Jessica and peanut
I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas

Lisa said...

Doing a recall on the stomach contents - what a clever way of beating around the bush! LOL! Love it!

I hope you have a great Christmas - it sounds like it will. I would love to hang around you guys - I bet it would be tons of fun. Next Christmas will be so much fun with the baby.

My gut instinct was always right with the girls...well, no, #3 was off, but weird - she's such a tomboy. Makes you wonder. Names...man. We had a couple picked right out - like our oldest (Marisa) was going to be Allyson and when she was born - well, she just was NOT an Allyson. After that, we just picked a few and waited. Our last - I was getting ready to leave the hospital and still filling out the info to name her. I don't like such hard decisions. :)

Have a great holiday(s)! Love ya!

Greeneyes said...

I am going to have to wear a bib when I come here ! LOL
The Biggest of Squishy warm holdin onfor dear life HUGZ to you my Friend ,you shall be in my thoughts throughout the Holidays
Love
Greeneyes (P)

Cheryl said...

Merry Christmas my cooking friend! Enjoy family and friends...Blessings