Holiday Guest Blogger: Christmas in Dixie

Hi Megan’s preppy followers!!!  I am Liz from midwesternpeach.tumblr.com.  I haven’t been blogging lately because I have been so busy with work and just got married in November.  I grew up in Lafayette, Indiana (right next to Purdue University).  I know Megan and her BF from my Purdue days.  My husband and Megan’s BF are really great friends from the fraternity and we were honored to have him in our wedding as a groomsman.  I am so excited to share some of my family’s Holiday Traditions with ya’ll! 

I was so blessed to have grown up in a family where most of my cousins, aunts, and uncles lived so close.  Because of my family all being so close to each other, especially my mom’s side, we always spent Christmas Eve with them.  My family and my mother’s side of the family are Catholic, so of course the reason for the season was more than just the gifts.  In preparation for Christmas, like most Catholics we would prepare for the Lord’s coming with Advent, which starts the 4th Sunday before Christmas.  We always had an advent wreath on the dinning room table which had four candles to represent the four Sundays before Christmas.  My mom and I would usually volunteer at the church for families in need so they can have a Christmas, and we would make food for the homeless shelter.  I always loved the season.  We would go sledding in the snow, drive 2 1/2 hours to Chicago to see the store fronts, and drive around town and see all the lights on the houses.  There was even a family that did a huge display of lights out in the country and when I was very young I opened the door to our van and lost my shoe!  My dad still reminds me of that today, “I went to look at the lights where you lost your shoe...”

Christmas Eve in our home was always a blast.  Every other year we would have Christmas Eve at our house or at my aunt’s house.  My mom and her two sisters were always cooking and baking, especially on the holidays.  For our main course we would always boil a ton of shrimp and serve with butter and cocktail sauce.  Aside from the traditional pies and casseroles, My Aunt Judy always gave the boys of the family homemade beef jerky and I was always so jealous... she would even put it in the White Elephant gift exchange which was always a hit.

Homemade Beef Jerky

This recipe was given to my aunt by my great uncle.  They drying method in the recipe reduces the moisture content to around 18% which means the jerky will store at room temperature as long as there is any to be eaten :)  Any cut of lean beef can be used.  It is very important to select a lean muscle cut and then remove all outside fat.  Fat will turn rancid.  The easiest cut to use is flank steak.

1 beef flank steak                                         1/4 tsp. garlic salt

1/2 cup soy sauce                                        1/4 tsp. lemon pepper

Trim all visible fat from beef.  Cut lengthwise with grain into long thin strips, no more than 1/4” thick.  Combine soy sauce and seasonings.  Pour over beef strips and toss until well coated.  Place a wire rack on a baking sheet.  Arrange strips on rack to touch, but do not overlap.  Bake in a very slow oven (150º-175º) overnight, 10-12 hours.  Store finished jerky at room temperature.

*  Note beef jerky should not be crisp, if it is, oven is too hot.

Another great hit at all of our holidays are my Aunt Ann’s homemade Caramels.  This recipe has been around for 25 years, and they have been made for all the family weddings, even mine!

Caramels

2 1/4 cups brown sugar                      1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk

1 cup butter                                        1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

1 cup light Karo corn syrup                

Pinch of salt

In a large saucepan, combine the first 4 ingredients.  Cook over medium heat until all the sugar is dissolved.  Gradually add milk; mix well.  Continue cooking and stirring until candy thermometer reads 240º.  Remove from heat.  Stir in vanilla until blended.  Pour into a 9x13” buttered pan.  When cool enough, cover with plastic wrap so not to form a skin on the caramels.  You can use parchment paper to line pan.  When cool, cut into small pieces and wrap in wax paper.

Our favorite part of the night, besides all the food and games of euchre is the White Elephant gift exchange. Each family member brings a wrapped gift.  We then draw numbers to determine in what order we take turns choosing gifts. The first person opens a wrapped gift, then the second person chooses whether to open a wrapped gift or "steal" the previously opened gift. If a person has their gift stolen, they also have the option of choosing a wrapped gift or stealing an unwrapped one.  And so on... Our family has the rule that a gift can only be stolen three times.  There are usually re-gifted items, funny gifts, and sometimes one of the parents will put in something good (case of import beer, family heirloom, beef jerky mentioned earlier, etc).  It is more to entertain than get something really good.  Some entertaining gifts in the past have been:  A box of travel shampoos and conditioners, a beer bong, an ugly shower curtain, or even snuggies.

Now living in Atlanta I am sure I will start some fun traditions with the husband and our dog Stout!  I will be spending my first Christmas away from my family and with the in-loves (I like that better than in-laws) for the first time.  I will miss my family tons, but I am not going to miss the snow this year!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Holiday Guest Blog: JM from Indiana

Happy Holidays, fellow Prep in the Midwest Blog readers.  This would be Megan’s soriroity sister, know from previous blogs as JM.  Megan asked several of us to do a blog post for the holidays and I told her I would be more than happy to after I finished my Law School Finals. I finished with everything today and I will never ever have to take over the holidays as a full time student and let me tell you finals put a cramp on the holiday season.  But finals are over so it now time to get into the Christmas spirit.

Growing up in the Midwest where Christmas Tree farms are plenty and one of the results from that is the annual family tradition of the hunt for the perfect tree.  Now for those of you who either have a fake tree or purchase your tree precut, you have never had the privilege of the thrill of the hunt.  Since we were little my family….Momma M, Papa M and sister SM have gone on this yearly trek and you have to understand there are certain qualifications for any tree we consider.  It must have a straight trunk, it can be no taller than 8 feet, and it must pass Momma M’s hug test (if she can’t get halfway around the tree its too fat.  Only once in my life have we not all gone and that was when Momma M was sick and couldn’t go….SM and I were still young so we had not bee fully schooled in “the hunt” and we failed.  It was the fattest tree we have ever had and was almost too big for the area in the old house.  Now the hunt is no something short, one year when SM and I were both in college or SM had just graduated we went to three, yes three different farms to find the perfect tree.  It is no uncommon for it to take half a day as we trek over 10-15 acre large tree farms.   We normally get it down to a couple of trees and then Momma M has to compare them which means normally SM, Pappa M, and I got left at our top three picks to guard them while Momma went between them.  Finally when we had reach a unanimous decision (ok really it was Momma’s call at the end of the day) we all assumed our designated roles which we have had since I was 8 years old or so.  Pappa would of course cut it down and Momma, SM and I use to hold it but after I hit 12 it was strictly my job.  Pappa and I would carry the tree, SM would carry the handsaw, and Momma the measuring pole.

When SM and I were at Purdue we normally wrangled dinner out of Momma and Papa before they went home.  Momma would put lights on it, normally around 1,000-1,200 lights, and when we got home we would decorate it.  We are at no shortage of ornaments as Grandma M has gotten SM and me an ornament every year since we were born, so right there we have 4 dozen or more.  We also have ornaments friends have given the family, several glass balls from my parent’s first tree together, ones from my parent’s childhood and even some that belonged to Momma’s grandparents. The only time we don’t go on “the hunt” for a Christmas tree is when we go to Florida and then I have to make do with a fake one….but throw in a beach and I can deal. 

This is the first year I was not home to decorate but I think they did a great job and Momma saved a couple of ornaments for me to put on when I head home next week. 

This is the first year I was not home to decorate but I think they did a great job and Momma saved a couple of ornaments for me to put on when I head home next week.  A picture of the finish product that Momma sent me. 

Over the years we have had scotch pines, white pine, Douglas fir and Frasier fir trees.  I have to admit Fraser firs are hands down my favorite and have been our tree of choice for the past 8 years.  Which is your favorite?

Scotch Pine

White Pine

Douglas Fir

Fraser Fir

I wish you happy holidays and I hope you get to sit around your Christmas Tree on Christmas morning whether it be a fake one, one you got precut or one you spent hours hunting with your family!

Weekend Recap - Holiday Preparations

This past weekend was one for the record books folks!

Friday, I received a special care package from my Padre...

The gift package was my Christmas present from the Fresh Lobster Company.

Meet Lucky (with the yellow rubberbands) & Ricky (in the green).

These beauties arrived at work roughly around 1pm on Friday along with their buddies, the clams. I named them Lucy & Ricky because Ricky kept trying to push Lucy off the table... 'He's got some 'splainin' to do....'

BF came over and we made a fabulous meal. This place sent the whole kit & kaboodle except the wine... literally!

They sent clam chowder, lobster, corn, and clams.

They were extremely tasty, even if they fought back a bit while I tried to eat them (I got some scratches on my hands from the shells)

Saturday morning, BF & I got up early and used my awesome gym. I've been meaning to be better about my work out schedule, but with the holidays, traveling, and work things have just been insane... but that could be me making excuses for not wanting to work out. It's always the same. I hate running and working out. When I was cheering and would do summer boot camps with Paul & Brian at All Star, they'd make us run around the complex and follow in their cars... I hated it, but it made me better, and made me feel better. The only work out I've ever really enjoyed is when I was tumbling. I worked at the gym to pay for my private lessons after our 2-3 hour practices. I miss tumbling... 

Anywho, got side tracked on memory lane.

But after an awesome workout, BF & I geared up for holiday shopping. We had some party gifts and family gifts to get before the holiday rush.

We also went grocery shopping as I needed to stock up to prepare for my little shindig on Wednesday. I'm having some friends over for a little cocktail party and secret Santa. I'll be sure to share a re-cap with recipes!

Saturday afternoon/evening I baked chocolate chip cookies (recipe below) to take into work and to share with my neighbors. I had already made my bourbon balls (recipe below). I just got all sorts of productive and made both a meat & veggie version of J.M.'s lasagna. I guiltily confess, I forgot the mozzarella cheese and was forced to use the sharp cheddar I had. To make the recipe veggie, I just split the sauce and put in artichoke hearts and mushrooms. BF is trying really hard to be 'healthier'. I also managed to get all my cards done for work (as I'm giving my presents out today as most people start their holidays next week).
Sunday, BF and I got up again to work out; it just feels so good to be healthy! After coming home to do laundry, he headed off to deliver his 'Christmas Girdinara' while I made the dough for my candy cane cookies (recipe below) and cleaned. I still need to do some more before my party, but things are shaping up.
Yesterday afternoon, we had BF's dad's family Christmas in Lombard. It was really nice and we watched the Bears game (even though, I don't really care about the sports aspect of spectating and the Bears failed in overtime... sorry BF, I prefer the social aspects :) ). Overall it was a great weekend!

I hope y'all had a great weekend as well! After all this baking, I think I've inspired myself to make Mexican wedding cakes as well.... I'll include that in a later post!

Cookie Recipes

Bourbon Balls

1 cup finely chopped vanilla wafers

1 cup finely chopped pecans

1 cup confections' sugar

2 tablespoons bourbon

1 1/2 tablespoon light corn syrup

2 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa-optional

Combine all, optional roll dough in 1 tablespoon balls through additional confectioners' sugar. Store in air-tight tin.

Candy Cane Cookies

1 cup shortening

1 cup confectioners' sugar

1 egg

1 1/2 teaspoon almond

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 1/2 cup flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon red food coloring (keep till end)

Divide dough in 1/2; put red coloring in 1/2; Blend well; place in two pieces of waxed paper; then, chill; after several hours, shape & bake at 350 degrees.

Nestle's Chocolate-Chip Cookies

2 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 

3/4 cup sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup (2 sticks) butter (softened)

2 large eggs

2 cups (12 oz.) semi-sweet chips

1 cup chopped nuts

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Using tablespoon sizes, put on cookie sheet and back for 9-11 mins. Cool 2 mins

Jamie's Lasagna

1 lb. hamburger

1 tablespoon basil

1/2 teaspoon garlic salt

1 1/2 teaspoon salt

16 oz. Tomato Sauce

2 6 oz. cans of Tomato Paste

Brown & drain beef. Add rest of ingredients. Simmer uncovered for 30 mins. Cook & drain 10 lasagna noodles.

You'll need roughly 2 cups mozzarella cheese.

Wet Mix:

2 eggs

1 cup parma cheese

1/2 tablespoon pepper

3 cups cottage cheese

2 tablespoon parsley flakes

Mix above in bowl separately. Then take 4 noodles in 13 x 9 x 2" pan & 1/2 meat mix & 1/2 other mix with 2 cups mozzarella cheese and repeat. Bake for 30-40 mins or until cheese is melted. let stand 10-15 mins before serving.

Holiday Guest Blogger: Sarah (a.k.a S.S. AWESOME!)

Seasons greetings, Followers of Megan! I’m Sarah (or S.S. from previous posts) and when I’m not distracting Megan with a bottle of wine and the latest episode of Toddlers and Tiaras, I’m helping her navigate the New Jersey transit system (and by helping, I mean looking around all wide-eyed and confused while cracking wise about the number of trains we have to take to get from Point A to Point B).  J

What’s not to love about Christmas?  The lights, the songs, the opportunity to dress your dog in their best and get their photo taken with Santa (yes, I’m one of those people).  So when our favorite Prep blogger asked to me to share my Christmas traditions, I just couldn’t say no.

When I think of Christmas cookies, I think of biscotti and kolaches. Every year at Christmas, my grandmother makes her homemade almond biscotti (delish!) and my mother whips up some kolaches (if you’re not familiar with kolaches, they’re a delish fruit pastry type of cookie).  I absolutely love baking and each year try out at least two new recipes (one for the hubby to enjoy and one for my puppies).  For some great ideas for cookies that are not for your canines, check out The Joy of Baking’s website (http://www.joyofbaking.com).

mmm….fruit pastry type of cookie….

There’s nothing better than grabbing a cup of hot cocoa, piling in the car and driving around the neighborhood to look at the decorations.  But while most people are enjoying the soft glow from hundreds of twinkling lights, I’m on a hunt: the hunt to find the tackiest home in town.  You know which ones I’m referring to.  They are the houses that inspire the following chain of thoughts: “Wow! I’d hate to pay that electricity bill!”; “I wonder how long it takes them to put that all up”; “What the heck do dolphins have to do with Christmas?!”  Okay, so that last one might have been in regards to a house in my neck of the woods but you get the idea.  So while Megan and I discuss the relation of aquatic mammals to the birth of our Lord, enjoy these pics from other tacky homes (and count your blessings they don’t live next door to you!)

Doing their part to ensure the local power company has a VERY Merry Christmas.

But my favorite part about Christmas traditions is making new ones.  My husband is a police officer so we don’t always get to head home for the holidays.  When it’s just the two of us, I try to make Christmas all the more special.  We do holiday ride-a-longs where I get to watch him in action (and try my darnedest to stay awake all night, a hazard of the midnight shift), we make a fancy Christmas dinner together and sip on eggnog while we watch the classics.   It’s a quiet way to pass the holiday, but Christmas is about being with those you love so I wouldn’t have it any other way.  For me, it’s perfection. 

That’s it for me, blog-o-sphere!  I hope each and every one of you has the Happiest of Holidays!

2011 Christmas Letter!

Ok, I can finally share it with y'all!

I finished my annual Christmas letter a few weeks ago, but made sure not to mail them out till I had specialty Christmas stamps! They were mailed out Monday, so without further ado...

I wish you all the best this holiday season!

If you have a Christmas card, do share!

Christmas Is Here!

While home for the Thanksgiving holiday Sister reminded me (and the rest of the family), how she thinks the psycho Target shopper is me.... So I'll embrace it... for now...

In the spirit of the season (as it starts tonight with the lighting of the Rockefeller Tree), I thought I'd post about all the companies making ornaments for this holiday season. With last week's Black Friday, this week's Cyber Monday, I can't even begin to tell you the amount of emails I've received from so many companies touting their Holiday wares.

I like a good Christmas Sweater, or mitten set just as much as the next prep, but I REALLY love ornaments! I love putting up my tree and having it glitter at me while I wrap presents and listen to holiday music. Also, ornaments don't require fitting rooms which will likely remind you, you probably ate too much turkey and stuffing for Thanksgiving... but that's neither here nor there.

One of the companies that recently came out with their own line of Christmas ornaments was Smather's & Branson!

S&B do a phenomenal job when it comes to needle point products and these are no exception. I've purchased many a key fob and flask, if not belt from them in the past, and these ornaments look awesome. 

This reminds me of something you might find tucked away from the 40's in your grandma's old ornament stash. I love the old timey Santas! Especially the old Coke Commerical one!

I'm a sucker for Nutcrackers. My Mom used to take us down to the Atlanta Center for Performing Arts to see this every so often and I just love the story of Clara looking for her Prince!

And for $25, these things are a steal, because no way (even as crafty as I am) do I have the skills or the time to try to replicate these!

Vineyard Vines also has some pretty cute ornaments this year. I can't say if it's their first year doing this, because quite frankly, I don't recall, but they did a great job!

Of Course I'm going to show the awesome Whaler! Got to represent the Brand!

But Most particularly, I LOVE their mini-ties!

Prices vary, but either way your tree would look super studly in these!

And of course, I have to include the ULTIMATE in all Sterling Silver.... TIFFANY'S!

These will obviously be a BIT more pricey, but they're just so PRETTY!

If you see any more BEAUTIFUL Christmas ornaments you think I might like, PLEASE pass them along! I'm an avid collect!

Happy Holidays!

Cyber Monday Deals 2011- Preppy Editions

I've compiled some of the Cyber Monday deals that I've found for our favorite Preppy Companies. If you've found any others, please let me know and I'll update throughout the day!

Tucker Blair LINK - 30% off using code: CyberMonday

Starbucks LINK - Free Shipping on orders over $10 using code: CYMONFS11

Duckhead LINK - Free shipping on orders over $100

Cash Robinson LINK - 3 for $50 polos & 50% off Accessories using code: cyber

Vineyard Vines LINK - 20% off any order of $200 or more with code: FUNDAY

Anchored Style LINK - 20% off your order + Free Shipping using code: CyberMonday

Knockaround Sunglasses LINK - Free Shipping using code: Cyber Monday

Cape Madras LINK - 50% off entire site

J. Crew LINK - 25% off entire site + Free Shipping using code: SURPRISE

Brook's Brothers LINK - 30% off entire site

L.L. Bean LINK - 20% off entire site + Free Shipping

Kiel James Patrick LINK - 20% off entire site


Salmon Cove LINK - 30% off entire site + Free Shipping using code: cybermonday


Rifle Paper LINK - 20% off entire site using code: cybermonday20

Am I missing something you've seen? Let me know!