Happy Eve of New Year's Eve!

Everyone is talking about how fast 2011 went! I agree! Where did the time go? I hope 2012 does not go at such a quick pace! I have so much I want to do! Again, in my mind, there are so many things I'd like to accomplish, learn, change, master, begin.....We will be spending a quiet New Year's Eve home, and I am so happy to do just that. We may live only an hour from Manhattan but you won't find us in Times Square! Just my nephew who will be patroling as a NYC Police Officer! Not sure if my husband is going to work or not. He is currently building a clocktower for that shopping center he built. It's coming out so nice! I was never one who wanted to be with the crowds on New Years. A quiet dinner out in a local, inexpensive restaurant or at home suits me just fine. Early bird specials are our favorites! I never wanted to leave the kids and party with the adults---hey, it's New Year's for the kids too, right? Besides the fact I have to struggle to stay awake till midnight (I'm a morning person), the idea of being out so late and driving kind of scares me. People over indulge and drive and I think I will just stay in my nice warm home surrounded by those I love!

I've been going through  my various magazines as a Winter project and I've decided to compile a section in one of my many notebooks for snowstorm meals! Sounds funny, right? Well, I know we will be in for our fair share of Winter storms, and I love having great food during them! Or when we do our sledding it is so nice to come in to the house and have some great comfort food. But what happens sometimes, is my mind goes blank when I am at the supermarket about what I want to make!  SO I thought I would compile lists and recipes of good SNOW food so that when I hear there is going to be a storm, I know what to get for extra special foods! Here is an example of stuff on my list:  A plate of loaded nachos, cheesy bacon and cheese casserole, chicken corn chowder, chilli, chilli burritos and chicken enchiladas, salisbury steak, and a whole bunch more! Finger foods, soups, quiches...if you think aboI got this great calendar they were giving out for free from a local supermarket Key Food and it is done retro style and they printed recipes from the past and it was so cool! They have a great recipe for Depression Era Corn Chowder! and SPAM Casserole. Now I personally have never tasted SPAM but the recipe sure sounds interesting! Best of all was a meal called Steak Diane which I had heard of before but never saw the ingredients or the prep for it. It looks so good with nice mushrooms and cream sauce! On my list! ut it, you can come up with great foods you would enjoy  sitting down to after an afternoon of sledding and being outside in the cold!

I guess because I am a list maker and a menu planner, planning for a storm was a no-brainer for me! I'm having fun going through all my many years of saved Taste of Home magazines and Kraft Food & Family magazines!

I have posted some pictures of Christmas morning. Of course the cats are in the middle of it all in a sea of wrapping paper!  One of Caitlin's gifts was a pop-up tent for her dolls to sleep in and camp out. As you can see, Robin & Mommy Cat made it their own personal little clubhouse!

Have a wonderful day!