For Tuesday, December 23rd, 2014

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23RD, 2014

87 DAYS UNTIL SPRING 

Sunrise: 7:52 am

Sunset:  5:03 pm

Life is a Special Occasion!

Hallmark

Celebrate your genealogy, as today is Roots Day.  It's a great day to celebrate your heritage. Many are returning to their roots today, as they head home for Christmas. Returning to our roots is a warm, cozy and comfortable feeling, a sense of belonging.

If you can't see the Bright Side, polish the dull side

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

The merry family gatherings--
The old, the very young
The strangely lovely way they
Harmonize in carols sung.

For Christmas is tradition time--
Traditions that recall
The precious memories down the years,
The sameness of them all.

Helen Lowrie Marshall

One of the Christmas gifts I’m giving to my family this year will help them to celebrate their roots.  I won’t say what it is because I want it to be a surprise, but it has to do with our Hungarian ancestry.  My Hungarian ancestors come from my father’s side of the family.  Hint:  My paternal grandmother was a very good cook.  

Our family tree is filled with a lot of different cultures and backgrounds.  It’s English, German, Irish, French, Hungarian and even a tiny bit of American Indian and probably a few more.  Its a mixture of people that all make us who we are.  

In Hungary a traditional Christmas dinner would include Fish soup, Stuffed cabbage and Bejgli, Poppyseed or Walnut roll, on Christmas Eve. In some families, they also eat fish fried in breadcrumbs.

Stuffed cabbage is wonderful and so I’m sharing the traditional Hungarian recipe for it today. I don’t make mine exactly like this but it’s still good.

1 medium head cabbage

1 can , 28 ounces, sauerkraut, divided

 1/2 pound ground turkey or beef

1/2 pound ground pork

1/2 cup long grain rice, cooked

1 teaspoon salt

 1/2 teaspoon pepper

1 egg

2 bacon strips, diced

1 cup chopped onion

2 garlic cloves, minced

 1 tablespoon Hungarian paprika

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 can, 14 1/2 ounces, diced tomatoes, undrained

1 tablespoon caraway seeds

 2 cups water

2 tablespoons all purpose flour

1 cup sour cream

Place cabbage in a large saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil; boil until outer leaves loosen from head. Lift out cabbage; remove softened leaves. Return to boiling water to soften more leaves. Repeat until all leaves are removed. Remove tough center stalk from each leaf. Set aside 12 large leaves for rolls; reserve the balance to use as recipe directs.

Spoon half of the sauerkraut into a Dutch oven; set aside. In a bowl, combine the beef, pork, rice, salt, pepper and egg. In a saucepan, cook bacon until crisp. Drain on paper towels. In drippings, saute onion and garlic until tender. Add bacon and half of onion mixture to meat mixture; mix well.

Place about 3 tablespoons on each cabbage leaf. Roll up, tucking in sides. Place rolls, seam side down, on sauerkraut in Dutch oven. Coarsely chop any remaining cabbage leaves; place over rolls. To remaining onion mixture, add paprika, cayenne, tomatoes, caraway seeds, water and remaining sauerkraut. Cook until heated through. Pour over cabbage rolls.

Cover and bake at 325° for 1 hour 45 minutes. In a small bowl, gradually stir flour into sour cream. Stir in 1 to 2 tablespoons hot cooking liquid; mix well. Spoon over cabbage rolls. Bake, uncovered, 15 to 20 minutes longer or until sauce is thickened. Makes 4 to 6 servings.

I’m thinking next time I make cabbage rolls I’ll be trying this more traditional method.  I make mine the way my mother used to do it, using only beef and without the bacon. sour cream  and sauerkraut.

One tradition that my family has been enjoying is the Elf on the Shelf and the pictures today are of the ELF sightings at a few of their homes.

I hope you all have a terrific Tuesday!  Tomorrow is Christmas Eve!

2 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS

It’s time to organize those stocking stuffers.  Here at my house each of my children have a stocking, but the gifts inside are for their whole family.  Luckily the stockings are quite large.  They travel from house to house each Christmas as my family take turns hosting our family get togethers.  This Christmas DD and her hubby will be our hosts and we’ll celebrate the Saturday after Christmas Day.

With stuffers sorted and ready, Santa won't be fumbling in the dark, trying to remember what gift belongs where!

COUNTING MY GIFTS

There is no ideal Christmas; only the one Christmas you decide to make as a reflection of your values, desires, affections, traditions. 

Bill McKibben

Counting at least 3 things every day that I'm thankful for.  There is always, always something to be thankful for.

2333. for family traditions

2334. for our ancestors, where would we be without them

2335. for a phone call from my old camping buddy, I hadn’t talked to her in a long time.

Enter into His courts with thanksgiving — and in His presence is fullness of Joy!

PRAYER FOR OUR TROOPS

Please pray for God's protection of

our troops and HIS wisdom for their

commanders.

Lord, hold our troops in

your loving hands.

Protect them as they protect us.

Bless them and their families for the

selfless acts they perform for us

in our time of need. I ask this in the

name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

AND bless our Police Officers, Firefighters

and Paramedics and EMT's

GOD BLESS YOU ALL !

ADVICE FOR TODAY

Friendships come and go, but families are forever. 

Kenny Rogers

A little smile, a word of cheer, 

A bit of love from someone dear…

Love,

ma