somewhere sheley: Christmas at our House

Monday, December 28, 2009

Christmas at our House

1. The Decor

Nativities...

and strung up things.

Norwegian "nisse", hearts, candles and stars...

and a greeting.

A very special snowman,
And, of course, our beautiful children!
All ready and waiting for the tree, which came later.

2. The Tree

Last year we cut down our tree at a christmas tree farm here in Norway. It was a lot of fun, so we decided to do it again. We learned last year to watch out for the stumps of cut down trees.
I don't think anyone fell on them this year. It didn't take us long to find our tree, there were so many good ones. The kids were super helpers - I think they were excited for the tasty warm raspberry drink they would be having when we were done, compliments of the tree farm, which has a u-pick raspberry patch in the summer. They pick berries from the patch and make them into yummy juice in the summer, then warm some up for all the tree seekers in winter. Yum! What a treat.

1 comment:

The Brown FamilyDecember 29, 2009 at 10:23 PM
Where to begin? I love the star you have! In New England they had a star people would put on the porch very similar they would also light for the 2nd coming of Christ! Also your tree adventure looks like so much fun, the tree farm sounds like it has it all for every season! Such a treat! Merry Christmas, we love you all!
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Chicken Athena

When we were first married, Dave's sisters highlighted this recipe as a favorite to try (among others) in the book they had given us. It is so very simple and...wow, so yummy!

2 cans Stewed Tomatoes
1 jar marinated Artichoke Hearts
1 Onion, sliced
2-3 boneless Chicken breasts, cut into cubes
Feta Cheese, crumbled
Angel Hair Pasta

Saute Chicken in oil until brown. Add onion and saute. Add tomatoes with juices and marinade from artichokes (set artichokes aside). Simmer about 10 minutes. Add Artichokes. Warm and serve over pasta with Feta Cheese sprinkled on top.

Helgun's Creamy Veggies and Chicken on Rice

3-4 Chicken Breasts, cut into bite sized pieces
1 large Red Onion, diced
2 sm Zucchini chopped
1 pkg Cherry or Grape Tomatoes, sliced in half or thirds
Mushrooms, halved then sliced
1 Lemon, juiced
1 pkg Creme Frache
2-3 cups Rice

Steam rice. Heat fry pan with small amount of olive oil. Fry onions till start to golden, then set aside in a separate bowl. Fry zucchini, mushrooms and tomatoe, each separately in olive oil and then place each into their own small bowl and set aside. Last, fry the chicken till golden. Add the Creme Frache with a dash of salt and pepper and simmer for about 3-5 minutes. Take off heat. Add the lemon juice to the chicken and stir. Layer fried Zuccinni, mushrooms, tomatoe and last onions over chicken. Fluff rice. Serve creamy vegetable and chicken over rice with a little salt a pepper if desired.

Heather's Veggie Soup

When we had Mary Alice in Alaska, a good friend made us this soup and some fresh wheat rolls for dinner. It was so very good!

onion, diced
1 large clove Garlic, pressed
6 cups water
3-4 carrots, sliced
3-4 potatoes, cut into large cubes
1/2 cup Brown Rice or Barley
1-2 Zucchinni, cut in quarters then sliced thick
1 can Black Beans or Kidney Beans
1 can Diced Tomatoes
1 tsp Salt
1 tsp Oregano
1 tsp Basil
1/2 tsp Rosemary
Parmesan Cheese

Saute onion and garlic in a bit of oil till tender. Add all other ingredients. Cook till carrots are tender. Serve with finely grated Parmesan cheese sprinkled on top.

Easy Tortilla Soup

Soup Base:
1 quart Chicken Broth
1 can Diced Tomatoes
2 cups frozen sweet Corn
1/4 cup Salsa

Add-ins:
2-3 Chicken Breasts, cooked and cut into small pieces
2-3 Avocados diced and sprinkled with Lemon Juice
Cheddar Cheese, grated with a fine grater
Sour Cream
Cilantro, cut up
Tortilla Chips
Other things that sound good to you...Black Beans, peppers?

Cook Chicken (I usually bake it with lemon pepper sprinkled on top). Mix soup ingredients and simmer while you prepare Add-ins. Put each add-in in it's own bowl with a spoon for serving. Serve soup base, then have everyone add their desired add-ins and enjoy!

serves 5

A yummy Norwegian Dessert

Grammie and Grand-dad and Uncle Andy Brown have tried this one for us and I think they really liked it. And, it works well with Spelt flour for Grammie! Yum!

Norwegian Apple Cake
Grease 8x11" pan.
Preheat oven to 350 F.

3-4 Green Apples - peel, slice put in covered bowl with lemon juice.

1/2 cup butter
2/3 cup milk
Put in saucepan. Bring to boil and whisk together. Keep hot.

2 eggs
1 cup sugar
pinch salt
Beat eggs, sugar and salt until creamy. Stir boiled milk and butter into egg mixture. Whisk together.

1 1/2 cup flour
3 tsp baking powder
Sift flour and baking powder together then stir into batter, carefully. Pour batter into baking pan. Drain juice from apples. Arrange apples in rows in batter (pack them in tight). Combine 3 tsp. cinnamon with 2 tablespoons sugar. Sprinkle over cake. Bake 40 minutes til golden brown. Yummy warm with ice cream or cold.

Easy Yummy!

Here's a mostly easy favorite lunch/dinner that even Mary Alice eats up with no reserves, which is AMAZING. (This was passed onto us from our friend Kelly, thus the name. Thanks Kelly!)

Kelly's Wraps
soft flour tortillas
2 cans black beans
1 1/2 - 2 teaspoons ground cumin
Tobasco sauce
3 cups cooked white rice
2 ripe avacodos
guacamole mix
sour cream
shredded mozzerella(?) cheese
chopped tomatoes
Optional: Tapatio, salsa picante hot sauce (very tasty sauce)

Wrap tortillas in foil and warm in 300F oven while preparing rest of food. Cook rice till done. Dump black beans (with juice) into separate pan. Add cumin and a few squirts tobasco sauce (according to your taste) to beans. Stir well and simmer over medium heat. In small bowl, mash avacodos and add quacamole mix. When beans and rice are ready, scoop rice and beans onto tortilla. Add cheese, guacamole, sour cream and tomatoes and ENJoy!

*I'm used to Norwegian cheeses now, but I think a low skim part moisture mozzerella cheese is about the same as the cheese we eat with these.

Breakfast for Americans, Dessert for Norwegians

Here's one of our favorite Norwegian treats:
Vaffler, or in other words, waffles!

4 Eggs
1/2 cup Sugar
4 cups Flour (I use wheat)
4 cups Milk
1 tsp ground Cardamon
1/2 cup Butter, melted

Blend dry ingredients. Stir in milk, eggs and melted butter. Cook using waffle iron. Serve with vanilla yogurt and your favorite jams (raspberry or strawberry are best).
Norwegians would use sour cream with jam (instead of yogurt) and sprinkle sugar on top. The cardamon gives them a sweet flavor, but not a sugary sweet. I like them best plain!

A Recipe to Share

I love new great simple recipes! What are you having for dinner tonight? Here's a newer one in my book:

Kristi’s Yummy Carrot Soupor in fancier terms, “Potage Crecy”

Ingredients:
1/4 c. Olive Oil
1 large onion, chopped coarsely (1 cup)
1 large garlic clove, pressed
1 small potato, peeled and sliced
4 cups sliced carrots
3 med. tomatoes, chopped (1 1/2 cups)
or 1 can Diced Tomatoes
1/2 c. shredded basil leaves
or 1-2 tsp dried crushed Basil
5 c. chicken broth or vegetable broth
or 2 bullion cubes
2 tsp. sea salt (no salt if using bullion)
freshly ground black pepper
1/4 tsp. Tabasco sauce
2 T. lemon juice

Directions:
Sauté onion and garlic over medium heat until soft.
Stir in potato, carrots, tomatoes, and basil.

Pour broth over vegetables; sprinkle with salt
and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and
cook at a gentle boil, partially covered, 45 min.

Puree soup in blender a small amount at a time or in a food processor. Add Tabasco and lemon juice.

Serve soup very hot.

Number of Servings: 8
Preparation Time:~1 hour